EURAMIC STUDY - ANTIOXIDANTS, MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION AND BREAST-CANCER- DESIGN AND MAIN HYPOTHESES

Epidemiological studies have not given sufficient evidence yet for the role of antioxidant nutrients in the prevention of cardiovascular dis ease. As regards cancer, an inverse association between beta-carotene intake and specific types of cancer, especially lung cancer, has been shown. For other cancer sites and other antioxidants, the association is less clear. The EURAMIC Study, an EC Concerted Action, is a case-co ntrol study conducted in 11 countries, in which the combined effect of vitamin E, beta-carotene and selenium, in relation to fatty acid inta ke, will be examined. The disease endpoints are acute myocardial infar ction and early-stage breast cancer. The broad range of antioxidant in take, the use of biomarkers of exposure, and the analysis of pooled da ta will allow an estimate of the strength of the putative beneficial e ffect. In this paper the background and design of the study will be in troduced.