Table 2. Randomized Controlled Trials of Vitamin Supplementation for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease

  Study, Publication
(Jadad Score)
Setting/population Treatment
(dose, formulation, frequency);
Other interventions
Duration of follow-up;
Follow-up rate
Myocardial Infarction Cardiovascular Disease Events Cardiovascular Disease mortality All-cause mortality
Vitamin E ATBC, ATBC Study Group, 199432 29,133 Finnish male smokers age 50-69 with no current use of vitamin A, E, or beta-carotene; no severe angina, malignancy, or other medical problems. 50 IU/day vitamin E and 20 mg/day beta-carotene in 2x2 factorial design. 5-8 years, median 6.1 years; case ascertainment essentially complete.       1.02
(0.95-1.09)
ATBC
Rapola, 199633
(5)
Same as above. See above. Maximum 7 years, median 4.7 years; 73%.   (Angina)
0.91
(0.83-0.99)
   
ATBC
Virtamo, 199834
(5)
27,271 men, Same as above except patients with prior MI excluded. See above. 5-8 years, median 6.1 years; case ascertainment essentially complete. 1.04
(0.89-1.22)
0.98
(0.87-1.10)
0.90
(0.75-1.08)
 
HOPE Study
Yusuf, 200035
(5)
9,541 men and women at 129 centers in 19 countries, over age 55, with a history of coronary artery disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, or diabetes, plus one cardiovascular risk factor. 400 IU/day vitamin E from natural sources and ACE inhibitor (10 mg ramipril) in 2x2 factorial design. 5 years; 99.9%. 1.02
(0.90-1.15)
1.05
(0.95-1.22)
1.05
(0.90-1.22)
1.00
(0.89-1.13)
Primary Prevention Project
Collaborative Group of the Primary Prevention Project, 200136
(3)
4,495 Italian men and women attending general practitioner's office or outpatients attending hospital-based hypertension clinic; > age 50 with one of the following cardiovascular risk factors: hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, obesity, family history of early MI (< age 55), or age >64. 300 IU/day synthetic alpha-tocopherol and 100 mg/day aspirin in 2x2 factorial design. Mean 3.6 years + 1.0 years; median 4 years 99.3%. 0.89
(0.52-1.58)
0.94
(0.77-1.16)
0.86
(0.49-1.52)
1.07
(0.77-1.49)
Vitamin E Atherosclerosis Prevention Study (VEAPS Trial)
Hodis, 200239
(5)
353 subjects >40 years with high LDL and no symptoms or signs of cardiovascular disease; no history of hypertriglyceridemia, diabetes or regular vitamin E. Primary outcome measure was change in carotid artery intima-media thickness. 400 IU/day tocopherol. 3 years
73% followed for 3 years.
Vitamin: 5
Placebo: 4
p value not cited
Vitamin: 8
Placebo: 10
p=0.81
Vitamin: 1
Placebo: 1
p value not cited
Vitamin: 2
Placebo: 1
p value not cited
Beta-Carotene ATBC
ATBC Study Group, 199432
(5)
29,133 Finland male smokers age 50-69 with no current use of vitamin A, E, or beta-carotene; no severe angina, malignancy, or other medical problems. 20 mg/day beta-carotene and 50 IU/day vitamin E in 2x2 factorial design. 5-8 years, median 6.1 years; case ascertainment "essentially complete."       1.08
(1.01-1.16)
ATBC
Rapola, 199633
(5)
Same as above. Same as above. Maximum 7 years, median 4.7 years; 73%.   (Angina)
1.06
(0.97-1.16)
   
ATBC
Virtamo, 199834
(5)
27,271 men, Same as above except patients with prior MI excluded. Same as above. 5-8 years, median 6.1 years; case ascertainment "essentially complete." 1.06
(0.90-1.24)
1.03
(0.91-1.16)
0.99
(0.83-1.19)
 
Physician's Health Study
Hennekens, 199629
(4)
22,071 US male physicians age 40-84, with no history of cancer, MI, stroke, or cerebral ischemia. 50 mg beta-carotene on alternate days; cointervention with 325 mg aspirin in 2x2 factorial design. Mean 12 years; 99.99%. 0.96
(0.84-1.09)
1.0
(0.91-1.09)
1.09
(0.93-1.27)
1.02
(0.93-1.11)
Skin Cancer Prevention Study
Greenberg, 199631
(3)
1,188 US men and 532 women with prior non-melanoma skin cancer, < age 85. Multicenter trial to prevent skin cancer recurrence. 50 mg/day beta-carotene. Median 8.2 years; 98%.     1.16
(0.82-1.64)
1.03
(0.82-1.30)
Women's Health Study
I-M Lee, 199930
(4)
39,876 US female health professionals, > age 45; no history of cancer, coronary heart disease, or cerebrovascular disease. 50 mg beta-carotene on alternate days; co-intervention with 100 mg aspirin and 600 IU/day vitamin E in 2x2x2 factorial design. Median 2.1 years of treatment plus 2 years of follow-up; 100%. 0.84
(0.56-1.27)
1.14
(0.87-1.49)
1.17
(0.54-2.53)
1.07
(0.74-1.56)
CARET
Omenn, 199637
(4)
4,060 West Coast US male asbestos workers, age 45-74, first exposure to asbestos >15 yrs ago, plus asbestos-related lung disease or high-risk job for 5 years, and 14,254 US male and female heavy smokers age 50-69, >20 pack-years, current smokers or quit <6 years ago. 30 mg/day beta-carotene and 25,000 IU/day retinol (retinyl palmitate). 5.5 years; 98% for mortality.     1.26 (0.99-1.61) 1.17 (1.03-1.33)
AREDS
AREDS Study Group, 200138
(5)
4,757 US participants, age 55-80 years recruited from ophthalmology clinics, without major cardiovascular disease or cancer in recent past. 500 mg vitamin C, 400 IU vitamin E, 15 mg beta-carotene per day. Some patients with age-related macular degeneration also assigned to receive 80 mg zinc and 2 mg copper versus placebo. 66% of the cohort chose to take a multivitamin (Centrum*) in addition. Mean 6.3 years
97.7% completed the trial.
Reported chest pain:
Vitamins: 19.8%
Placebo: 22.8%
(p=0.01)
1.06
(0.84-1.33)
   
Heart Protection Study
Heart Protection Collaborative Group, 200240
(5)
20,536 adults 40-80 years in UK with blood cholesterol >3.5 mmol/L and history of coronary artery disease, other occlusive arterial disease, diabetes, or treated hypertension; excluded with prior high dose vitamin E supplementation or life-threatening disease. Must have shown compliance in 2 month prerandomization compliance period. 600 mg synthetic vitamin E, 250 mg vitamin C and 20 mg beta-carotene daily in 2x2 factorial trial. Cointervention with simvastatin. 5 years; 99.7% followed for morbidity.     (Vascular Mortality)
1.05
(0.95-1.15)
1.04
(0.97-1.12)

Note: ATBC indicates Alpha-Tocopheral Beta-Carotene; MI, myocardial infarction; CARET, Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial; HOPE, Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; RR= relative risk.
*Wyeth Consumer Healthcare, Berks, United Kingdom.

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