Dietary intake of carotenoids and retinol and the risk of acute myocardial infarction in Italy.

Background : Carotenoids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease through their antioxidant properties, but the results of epidemiological studies are controversial. We analysed the relation between the intake of selected carotenoids and retinol and risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods : A case-control study was conducted in Milan, Italy, in 1995–2003. Cases were 760 patients with nonfatal AMI, and controls 682 patients admitted to hospital. Results : The risk of AMI decreased with increasing intake of α-carotene (odds ratios, OR = 0.71, 95% confidence intervals, CI 0.51–0.98, for the highest vs the lowest quartile of intake), β-carotene (OR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.50–1.01) and β-criptoxanthin (OR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.46–0.88). No associations emerged for total carotenoids, lycopene, lutein plus zeaxanthin and retinol. Conclusions : Our study suggests a weak protective effect of α-carotene, β-carotene and β-criptoxanthin on the risk of AMI. It also indicates that total carotenoids, lycopene, lutein plus zeaxanthin and retinol were not related to the risk of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]