Positive Health Online

Abstract

TORNWALL and colleagues, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland studied the association between dietary/lifestyle factors and intermittent claudication (severe pain in calves due to lack of blood supply).

Background

Methodology

The authors used a cohort comprised of 26,872 male smokers aged 50-69 years, originally recruited to the Finnish Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study, who were free of claudication at the beginning of the study. At baseline (1985-88), participants completed a diet history questionnaire. During the median follow-up period of 4 years ending in spring 1993, 2578 men reported symptoms of claudication. Smoking status was assessed at 4 monthly intervals.

Results

Smoking, systolic blood pressure, serum total cholesterol and diabetes mellitus were positively associated with claudication risk. Serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, education and exercise were inversely associated. Dietary carbohydrates, fibre and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids inversely affected risk, as well as the following antioxidants: dietary vitamin C (highest quartile vs. lowest: relative risk (RR) = 0.86; dietary gamma-tocopherol (RR = 0.89); dietary carotenoids (RR 0.82); serum alpha-tocopherol (RR = 0.88); and serum beta-carotene (RR 0.77). Cessation of smoking reduced subsequent risk for claudication (RR = 0.86).

Conclusion

Classical risk factors for atherosclerosis are associated with claudication. High intakes of antioxidant vitamins may be protective. Further research is required before antioxidants may be recommended for the prevention of intermittent claudication.

References

Tornwall ME et al. Prospective study of diet, lifestyle, and intermittent claudication in male smokers. American Journal of Epidemiology 151(9): 892-901. 1 May 2000.

Comment

This result may have important applications for clinical practice.