Antioxidant vitamin status and carotid atherosclerosis in the elderly

Background: The oxidative modification of LDL is thought to play a crucial role in the initiation of atherosclerosis. Antioxidant vitamins can protect LDL from oxidation, and high intakes or blood concentrations of these vita mins have been linked with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Few da ta are available on the importance of antioxidant vitamins in earlier stage s of atherogenesis. Objective: We investigated the cross-sectional relation between antioxidant vitamin status and carotid atherosclerosis in a group of elderly persons. Design: The study sample comprised 468 men and women aged 66-75 y living in Sheffield, United Kingdom. Duplex ultrasonography was used to measure inti ma-media thickness and the degree of stenosis in the extracranial carotid a rteries. Antioxidant vitamin status was assessed by measuring fasting plasm a concentrations of vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta -carotene. Results: In the men, after adjustment for age and cardiovascular disease ri sk factors, a 20% higher plasma vitamin C concentration was associated with a 0.004-mm smaller intima-media thickness; a 20% higher beta -carotene con centration was associated with a 0.005-mm smaller intima-media thickness. C ompared with men with hi-h blood concentrations of beta -carotene or choles terol-adjusted vitamin E, those with low blood concentrations of these vita mins were 2.5 times as likely to have carotid stenosis of >30%. We found no significant trends between plasma concentrations of antioxidant vitamins a nd either measure of carotid atherosclerosis in the women. Conclusion: A high antioxidant vitamin status may help to prevent the initi ation and progression of early atherosclerotic lesions in men.