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Research: RISSANEN and colleagues,
Listed in Issue 78
Abstract
RISSANEN and colleagues, Research Institute of Public Health, University of Kuopio, PO Box 1627, FIN-70211, Kuopio, Finland, investigated whether low serum levels of lycopene are associated with increased risk of acute coronary events and stroke in previously event-free middle-aged men.
Background
Several epidemiological studies have shown an association between beta-carotene and risk of cardiovascular diseases. Only a few studies have investigated the association of lycopene with the risk of coronary events. No studies have looked at lycopene in relation to risk of stroke.
Methodology
725 men aged 46-64 years, examined in 1991-1993 in the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study, were evaluated in a Cox’s proportional hazard’s model, adjusting for examination years, age, systolic blood pressure and three nutritional factors (serum folate, beta-carotene and plasma vitamin C).
Results
41 of the men had suffered either a fatal or non-fatal acute coronary event or a stroke by December 1997. Men in the lowest quarter of serum lycopene levels (or =0.07 mol/l) had a 3.3-fold risk of acute coronary events (95% CI 1.7, 6.4) or stroke compared to the others.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that a low serum lycopene level is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic vascular events in middle-aged men previously free of coronary heart disease and stroke.
References
Rissanen TH et al. Low serum lycopene concentration is associated with an excess incidence of acute coronary events and stroke: the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study. The British Journal of Nutrition 85 (6): 749-54. Jun 2001.
