MEMORANDUM FOR: Science Writers and Editors on the Journal Press List

High Blood Levels of Vitamin E Associated With Lower Incidence of Lung Cancer

October 14, 1999 (EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE 4 P.M. EDT October 19)

Julianne Chappell, Executive Editor, Dan Eckstein, (301) 986-1891, ext. 112

Higher blood levels of vitamin E are associated with a 19% reduction in the incidence of lung cancer in male smokers.

This finding, which is based on the prospective measurement of {alpha}-tocopherol, the predominant form of vitamin E, is presented in the October 20 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute by Karen Woodson, Ph.D., of the National Cancer Institute, and colleagues. {alpha}-Tocopherol is thought to inhibit the development of cancer in part through its ability to neutralize free radicals that both initiate and promote tumor development.

The men were participating in the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention (ATBC) Study, a randomized trial involving men in Finland. When the men entered the study, which involved supplementation with {alpha}-tocopherol, ß-carotene, both, or neither, baseline determinations of {alpha}-tocopherol in serum were made, and {alpha}-tocopherol values were available for 29,102 participants. In addition, the men provided data regarding medical histories, smoking, and dietary intake of various foods. Among the 29,102 men, 1144 developed lung cancer during a median follow-up of 7.7 years.

The authors speculated that {alpha}-tocopherol blood levels of the men when they entered the study might be predictive of subsequent lung cancer development. (The ATBC Study itself did not provide evidence of lung cancer prevention from {alpha}-tocopherol supplementation [50 mg per day] over a 5- to 8-year period, although longer supplementation did suggest some benefit.) Adjusted serum -tocopherol at time of study entry ranged from 1.4 to 110.6 mg/L, with a median value of 11.6 mg/L. These levels were correlated with dietary {alpha}-tocopherol intake but not with years or amount of smoking, alcohol consumption, or other factors.

When men were grouped into five categories of {alpha}-tocopherol concentration, those in the group having the highest level of {alpha}-tocopherol had a 19% lower risk of lung cancer than men with the lowest {alpha}-tocopherol levels. There was a stronger inverse relationship between {alpha}-tocopherol level and risk of lung cancer among men under 60 years of age and among men with less cumulative tobacco exposure.

Contact: NCI Press Office, (301) 496-6641. (Note: The media contact for this paper is the NCI Press Office because the author is on the NCI staff.)

Note: This memo to reporters is from the Journal staff and is not an official release of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) or Oxford University Press (OUP) nor does it reflect NCI or OUP policy. In addition, unless otherwise stated, all articles and items published in the Journal reflect the individual views of the authors and not necessarily the official points of view held by NCI, any other component of the U.S. government, OUP, or the organizations with which the authors are affiliated. Neither NCI nor any other component of the U.S. government nor OUP assumes any responsibility for the completeness of the articles or other items or the accuracy of the conclusions reached therein.



             
Copyright © 1999 Oxford University Press (unless otherwise stated)
Oxford University Press Privacy Policy and Legal Statement