Low serum carotene level and increased risk of ischemic heart disease related to long-term arsenic exposure

To elucidate the association between arsenic-related ischemic heart disease (ISHD) and serum antioxidant micronutrient level, residents aged 30 or old er living in arseniasis-hyperendemic villages in Taiwan were recruited in a community-based health survey. A structured questionnaire was used to obta in a history of long-term exposure to arsenic through consuming artesian we ll water and fasting serum samples were also collected at the recruitment. A. total of 74 patients affected with ISHD, who were diagnosed through both electrocardiography and Rose questionnaire interview, and 193 age-sex-matc hed healthy controls were selected for the examination of serum levels of m icronutrients by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). There was a significant biological gradient between the risk of ISHD and the duration of consuming high-arsenic artesian well water. A significant reverse dose-r esponse relationship with arsenic-related ISHD was observed for serum level of alpha- and beta-carotene, but not for serum levels of retinol, lycopene and alpha-tocopherol. Multivariate analysis showed a synergistic interacti on on arsenic-related ISHD between duration of consuming artesian well wate r and low serum carotene level. An increased risk of arsenic-related ISHD w as also associated with hypertension and elevated body mass index, but not with serum lipid profile, cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking. The findi ngs seem to suggest that arsenic-related ISHD has a pathogenic mechanism wh ich is at least partially different from that of ISHD unrelated to long-ter m exposure to arsenic. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights re served.