This study examined cross-sectionally the association of dietary beta -caro
tene, vitamin C, and vitamin E with peripheral arterial disease in Rotterda
m, the Netherlands (1990-1993), The 4,367 subjects from the Rotterdam Study
were aged 55-94 years and had no previous cardiovascular disease at baseli
ne. Diet was assessed with a food frequency questionnaire. Peripheral arter
ial disease was defined as an ankle-arm systolic blood pressure index (AAI)
of less than or equal to0.9 and was present in 204 men and 370 women. In m
ultivariate-adjusted logistic regression analyses, vitamin C intake was sig
nificantly inversely associated with peripheral arterial disease in women (
highest vs. lowest quartile: relative risk = 0.64, 95% confidence interval
(CI): 0.48, 0.89; p(trend) = 0.006), and a 100-mg increase in intake was as
sociated with a 0.013 AAI increase (95% Cl: 0.001, 0.025). In men, vitamin
E intake was inversely associated with peripheral arterial disease (relativ
e risk = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.44, 1.03; P-trend = 0.067); a 10-mg increase in in
take was associated with a 0.015 AAI increase (95% CI: 0.001, 0.031). Wheth
er these differences in antioxidant intake and the risk of a low AAI and of
peripheral arterial disease between sexes are attributable to a different
food pattern for men compared with women remains to be elucidated.