Effects of alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene supplementation on liver cancer incidence and chronic liver disease mortality in the ATBC study
Menée en Finlande à partir d'échantillons sériques de 29 046 et 22 805 hommes fumeurs, ces deux études évaluent l'association entre le niveau de concentrations d'alpha-tocophérol, de béta-carotène et de rétinol, en supplémentation ou non, et le risque de mortalité par maladies chroniques hépatiques et par cancer du foie
Background: Recent data suggest the possible benefits of
α-tocopherol and β-carotene supplementation on liver cancer and chronic liver disease (CLD), but the long-term trial data are limited.
Methods:
We evaluated the efficacy of supplemental 50
mg day−1
α-tocopherol and 20
mg day−1
β-carotene on incident liver cancer and CLD mortality in a randomised trial of 29
105 Finnish male smokers, who received supplementation for 5–8 years and were followed for 16 additional years for outcomes.
Results: Supplemental
α-tocopherol, β-carotene, or both, relative to placebo, did not reduce the risk of liver cancer or CLD, either overall, during the intervention or during the post-intervention period.
C
o
nclusions:
Long-term supplemental α-tocopherol or β-carotene had no effect on liver cancer or CLD mortality over 24 years of follow-up.
British Journal of Cancer , résumé, 2013