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Research: VARIS and colleagues,
Listed in Issue 33
Abstract
VARIS and colleagues, National Public Health Institute, and Dept of Clinical Chemistry, University of Helsinki, Finland write that vitamin E and beta-carotene are thought to decrease risk of gastric cancer in humans and animals. The authors studied the effect of dietary supplementation with vitamin E and beta-carotene upon premalignant and malignant stomach lesions in older men with atrophic gastritis.
Background
Methodology
The authors conducted the study as part of the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention study (ATBC study) where more than 29,000 male smokers aged 50-69 years were randomly assigned to receive daily 50 mg vitamin E, 20 mg beta-carotene, both of these nutrients, or a placebo for a period of 5-8 years. Serum pepsinogen was measured at baseline and following 3 years supplementation in order to identify men with atrophic gastritis. A low serum pepsinogen I level, indicating atrophic stomach gastritis was found in 2132 men, who were invited to undergo upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. This was performed on 1344 men following a median supplementation period of 5.1 years.
Results
Neoplastic (potentially cancerous) alterations were discovered in 63 men; 42 had definite low-grade dysplasias (moderate dysplasia); 7 had definite dysplasias of high grade (severe dysplasia); 11 had carcinomas, of which 7 were early cancers and 3 had carcinoid tumours. Neither vitamin E nor beta-carotene supplementation was associated with prevalence of gastric neoplasias following adjustment for other risk factors. The effect was not modified by baseline serum level or dietary intake of vitamins, prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection or other covariates.
Conclusion
The authors conclude that neither vitamin E nor beta-carotene supplementation for 5 years has any major impact upon occurrence of neoplastic changes of the stomach in older male smokers with atrophic gastritis.
References
Varis K et al. Gastric cancer and premalignant lesions in atrophic gastritis: a controlled trial on the effect of supplementation with alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene. The Helsinki Gastritis Study Group. Scand J Gastroenterol 33(3): 294-300. Mar 1998.
