Donate Help Contact The AHA Sign In Home
American Heart Association
Circulation
Search: search_blue_button Advanced Search
Circulation. 1995;92:2142-2150

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Kritchevsky, S. B.
Right arrow Articles by Heiss, G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Kritchevsky, S. B.
Right arrow Articles by Heiss, G.
Right arrowPubmed/NCBI databases
*Compound via MeSH
*Substance via MeSH
Medline Plus Health Information
*Antioxidants
*Diets
Hazardous Substances DB
*ASCORBIC ACID
*BETA-CAROTENE
*SODIUM ASCORBATE

(Circulation. 1995;92:2142-2150.)
© 1995 American Heart Association, Inc.


Articles

Dietary Antioxidants and Carotid Artery Wall Thickness

The ARIC Study

Stephen B. Kritchevsky, PhD; Tomoko Shimakawa, ScD; Grethe S. Tell, PhD, MPH; Barbara Dennis, DrPH; Myra Carpenter, MS; John H. Eckfeldt, MD, PhD; Holmes Peacher-Ryan, PhD; Gerardo Heiss, MD, PhD

From the Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee, Memphis (S.B.K., H.P.-R.); the Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, Md (T.S.); the Collaborative Studies Coordinating Center, Department of Biostatistics (B.D., M.C.), and the Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health (G.H.), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (J.H.E.); and the Department of Public Health Sciences, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC (G.S.T.).

Background Evidence that dietary antioxidants may prevent atherosclerotic disease is growing. The relationship between the intake of dietary and supplemental vitamin C, {alpha}-tocopherol, and provitamin A carotenoids and average carotid artery wall thickness was studied in 6318 female and 4989 male participants 45 to 64 years old in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

Methods and Results Intake was assessed by use of a 66-item semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire. Carotid artery intima-media wall thickness was measured as an indicator of atherosclerosis at multiple sites with B-mode ultrasound. Among men and women >55 years old who had not recently begun a special diet, there was a significant inverse relationship between vitamin C intake and average artery wall thickness adjusted for age, body mass index, fasting serum glucose, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, HDL and LDL cholesterol, total caloric intake, cigarette use, race, and education (test for linear trend across quintiles of intake, P=.019 for women and P=.035 for men). An inverse relationship was also seen between wall thickness and {alpha}-tocopherol intake but was significant only in women (test for linear trend, P=.033 for women and P=.13 for men). There was a significant inverse association between carotene intake and wall thickness in older men (test for linear trend, P=.015), but the association weakened after adjustment for potential confounders. No significant relationships were seen in participants <55 years old.

Conclusions These data provide limited support for the hypothesis that dietary vitamin C and {alpha}-tocopherol may protect against atherosclerotic disease, especially in individuals >55 years old.


Key Words: antioxidants • diet • carotid arteries • atherosclerosis




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Am. J. Clin. Nutr.Home page
M. Odermarsky, J. Lykkesfeldt, and P. Liuba
Poor vitamin C status is associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness, decreased microvascular function, and delayed myocardial repolarization in young patients with type 1 diabetes
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2009; 90(2): 447 - 452.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J CARDIOVASC PHARMACOL THERHome page
R. Siekmeier, C. Steffen, and W. Marz
Role of Oxidants and Antioxidants in Atherosclerosis: Results of In Vitro and In Vivo Investigations
Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, December 1, 2007; 12(4): 265 - 282.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Clin. Nutr.Home page
J. Bleys, E. R Miller III, R. Pastor-Barriuso, L. J Appel, and E. Guallar
Vitamin-mineral supplementation and the progression of atherosclerosis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, October 1, 2006; 84(4): 880 - 887.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.Home page
T. Matsumoto, L. V. d'uscio, D. Eguchi, M. Akiyama, L. A. Smith, and Z. S. Katusic
Protective Effect of Chronic Vitamin C Treatment on Endothelial Function of Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mouse Carotid Artery
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., July 1, 2003; 306(1): 103 - 108.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Am. Coll. Nutr.Home page
S. J. Padayatty, A. Katz, Y. Wang, P. Eck, O. Kwon, J.-H. Lee, S. Chen, C. Corpe, A. Dutta, S. K Dutta, et al.
Vitamin C as an Antioxidant: Evaluation of Its Role in Disease Prevention
J. Am. Coll. Nutr., February 1, 2003; 22(1): 18 - 35.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Diabetes CareHome page
D. N. O'Neal, G. Dragicevic, K. G. Rowley, M. Z. Ansari, N. Balazs, A. Jenkins, and J. D. Best
A Cross-Sectional Study of the Effects of Type 2 Diabetes and Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors on Structure and Function of Nonstenotic Arteries of the Lower Limb
Diabetes Care, January 1, 2003; 26(1): 199 - 205.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Clin. Nutr.Home page
A. Iannuzzi, E. Celentano, S. Panico, R. Galasso, G. Covetti, L. Sacchetti, F. Zarrilli, M. De Michele, and P. Rubba
Dietary and circulating antioxidant vitamins in relation to carotid plaques in middle-aged women
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, September 1, 2002; 76(3): 582 - 587.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll CardiolHome page
A. Alves-Rodrigues and B. Thomas
The role of lutein in the prevention of atherosclerosis
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., August 21, 2002; 40(4): 835 - 835.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Nutr.Home page
R. M. Ortega, A. M. Requejo, A. M. Lopez-Sobaler, P. Andres, B. Navia, J. M. Perea, and F. Robles
Cognitive Function in Elderly People Is Influenced by Vitamin E Status
J. Nutr., July 1, 2002; 132(7): 2065 - 2068.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
JAMAHome page
K. M. Fairfield and R. H. Fletcher
Vitamins for Chronic Disease Prevention in Adults: Scientific Review
JAMA, June 19, 2002; 287(23): 3116 - 3126.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll CardiolHome page
B. M. McQuillan, J. Hung, J. P. Beilby, M. Nidorf, and P. L. Thompson
Antioxidant vitamins and the risk of carotid atherosclerosis: The perth carotid ultrasound disease assessment study (CUDAS)
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., December 1, 2001; 38(7): 1788 - 1794.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Clin. Nutr.Home page
C. R Gale, H. E Ashurst, H. J Powers, and C. N Martyn
Antioxidant vitamin status and carotid atherosclerosis in the elderly
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, September 1, 2001; 74(3): 402 - 408.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
Am J EpidemiolHome page
K. Klipstein-Grobusch, J. H. den Breeijen, D. E. Grobbee, H. Boeing, A. Hofman, and J. C. M. Witteman
Dietary Antioxidants and Peripheral Arterial Disease : The Rotterdam Study
Am. J. Epidemiol., July 15, 2001; 154(2): 145 - 149.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arch NeurolHome page
J. M. Leppala, J. Virtamo, R. Fogelholm, D. Albanes, P. R. Taylor, and O. P. Heinonen
Vitamin E and Beta Carotene Supplementation in High Risk for Stroke: A Subgroup Analysis of the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study
Arch Neurol, October 1, 2000; 57(10): 1503 - 1509.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Cardiovasc ResHome page
D. Tomasian, J. F. Keaney Jr., and J. A. Vita
Antioxidants and the bioactivity of endothelium-derived nitric oxide
Cardiovasc Res, August 18, 2000; 47(3): 426 - 435.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Clin. Nutr.Home page
S. H Zeisel
Is there a metabolic basis for dietary supplementation?
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2000; 72(2): 507S - 511.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
K. H. Masaki, K. G. Losonczy, G. Izmirlian, D. J. Foley, G. W. Ross, H. Petrovitch, R. Havlik, and L. R. White
Association of vitamin E and C supplement use with cognitive function and dementia in elderly men
Neurology, March 28, 2000; 54(6): 1265 - 1272.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
StrokeHome page
J. M. Leppala, J. Virtamo, R. Fogelholm, D. Albanes, and O. P. Heinonen
Different Risk Factors for Different Stroke Subtypes : Association of Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, and Antioxidants
Stroke, December 1, 1999; 30(12): 2535 - 2540.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Bio.Home page
K. S. Woo, P. Chook, O. T. Raitakari, B. McQuillan, J. Z. Feng, and D. S. Celermajer
Westernization of Chinese Adults and Increased Subclinical Atherosclerosis
Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, October 1, 1999; 19(10): 2487 - 2493.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Clin. Nutr.Home page
A. M Coulston
The role of dietary fats in plant-based diets
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, September 1, 1999; 70(3): 512S - 515.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
G. W. Ross, H. Petrovitch, L. R. White, K. H. Masaki, C. Y. Li, J. D. Curb, K. Yano, B. L. Rodriguez, D. J. Foley, P. L. Blanchette, et al.
Characterization of risk factors for vascular dementia: The Honolulu-Asia Aging Study
Neurology, July 1, 1999; 53(2): 337 - 337.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ANN INTERN MEDHome page
A. Ascherio, E. B. Rimm, M. A. Hernan, E. Giovannucci, I. Kawachi, M. J. Stampfer, and W. C. Willett
Relation of Consumption of Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and Carotenoids to Risk for Stroke among Men in the United States
Ann Intern Med, June 15, 1999; 130(12): 963 - 970.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Clin. Nutr.Home page
A. C Carr and B. Frei
Toward a new recommended dietary allowance for vitamin C based on antioxidant and health effects in humans
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, June 1, 1999; 69(6): 1086 - 1107.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NEJMHome page
P. W.F. Wilson, J. M. Hoeg, R. B. D'Agostino, H. Silbershatz, A. M. Belanger, H. Poehlmann, D. O'Leary, and P. A. Wolf
Cumulative Effects of High Cholesterol Levels, High Blood Pressure, and Cigarette Smoking on Carotid Stenosis
N. Engl. J. Med., August 21, 1997; 337(8): 516 - 522.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Bio.Home page
C. Iribarren, A. R. Folsom, D. R. Jacobs Jr, M. D. Gross, J. D. Belcher, and J. H. Eckfeldt
Association of Serum Vitamin Levels, LDL Susceptibility to Oxidation, and Autoantibodies Against MDA-LDL With Carotid Atherosclerosis: A Case-Control Study
Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, June 1, 1997; 17(6): 1171 - 1177.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
Clin. Chem.Home page
E. Simon, J.-L. Paul, T. Soni, A. Simon, and N. Moatti
Plasma and erythrocyte vitamin E content in asymptomatic hypercholesterolemic subjects
Clin. Chem., February 1, 1997; 43(2): 285 - 289.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]