Low serum lycopene concentration is associated with an excess incidence ofacute coronary events and stroke: the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study

A number of epidemiological studies have shown an association between beta -carotene and the risk of cardiovascular diseases, whereas only a few studi es are available concerning the association of lycopene with the risk of co ronary events, and no studies have been undertaken concerning lycopene and stroke. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that low serum levels of lycopene ar e associated with increased risk of acute coronary events and stroke in mid dle-aged men previously free of CHD and stroke. The subjects were 725 men a ged 46-64 years examined in 1991-3 in the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Ri sk Factor Study. Forty-one men had either a fatal or a non-fatal acute coro nary event or a stroke by December 1997. In a Cox' proportional hazard's mo del adjusting for examination years, age, systolic blood pressure and three nutritional factors (serum folate, beta -carotene and plasma vitamin C), m en in the lowest quarter of serum lycopene levels (less than or equal to0.0 7 mu mol/l) had a 3.3-fold (95 % CI 1.7, 6.4, P<0.001) risk of acute corona ry events or stroke compared with the others. Our study suggests that a low serum level of lycopene is associated with an increased risk of atheroscle rotic vascular events in middle-aged men previously free of CHD and stroke.