[Do antioxidants protect against myocardial infarct? Swiss contribution to the EURAMIC Study]

There is a growing interest in the function of antioxidants and free radicals and their roles in the development of arteriosclerosis. Oxidised LDL-cholesterol and polyunsaturated fatty acids may be involved in the development of arteriosclerotic lesions. The potential of antioxidant vitamins to prevent cardiovascular disease has been the subject of many studies. Up to now the results of different in vitro and in vivo studies remain controversial. For the first time, measurements of the concentrations of lipophilic antioxidants alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) and beta-carotene (provitamin A) in fat-tissue have been used as an approach. This method is believed to provide an average of the antioxidant intake over a longer period of time and probably reflects steady-state levels rather than intake. A case-control study was conducted using first occurrence of myocardial infarction in men as disease endpoint. In the swiss part of EURAMIC, cases were recruited in collaboration with the hospitals of Zurich. Controls were chosen randomly from the population register of Zurich. Fifty-seven male cases and 74 male controls were enrolled in the protocol. The classical risk factors showed the expected pattern. Levels for beta-carotene were significantly lower in the patient group (0.36 microgram/g biopsy versus 0.52 microgram/g biopsy in controls, p < or = 0.02). In contrast, levels for alpha-tocopherol were similar in both groups (237.5 micrograms/g biopsy in patients and 233.4 micrograms/g biopsy in controls). The Swiss alpha-tocopherol levels were the highest of all participating centres. Analyses of the questionnaires showed significantly higher consumption of vitamin C supplements in the control group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)