Supplementation with alpha-Tocopherol or beta-Carotene Reduces Serum Concentrations of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-D, but Not -A or -C, in Male Smokers

Evidence from the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention (ATBC) Study suggests that vitamin E and beta-carotene supplement use may influence the risk of several cancers. Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) are proteins involved in angiogenesis, an important requirement for tumor growth and metastasis. Thus, vitamin E and beta-carotene may influence cancer risk through one or more VEGF. The ATBC Study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, primary cancer prevention trial in which participants were assigned to 1 of 4 supplementation groups based on a 2 x 2 factorial design: 1) alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E); 2) beta-carotene; 3) both; or 4) placebo. For the present study, 100 cancer-free participants with follow-up serum available were randomly selected from each intervention group. VEGF-A, -C, and -D concentrations were measured by ELISA in serum obtained at baseline and after at least 2 y of supplementation. Differences in change in VEGF levels from baseline to follow-up between intervention groups were assessed using the ANOVA test. Change in VEGF-A and VEGF-C concentrations between baseline and follow-up did not differ by intervention group (P = 0.45 and 0.29, respectively). The decrease in the serum VEGF-D concentration was greater in the men supplemented with alpha-tocopherol (-9.7 +/- 2.5%) or beta-carotene (-8.5 +/- 2.7%) and tended to be greater in those supplemented with both (-6.8 +/- 2.4%) compared to the placebo group, in which there was no change (-0.4 +/- 3.0%) (P = 0.03). In this population of male smokers, supplementation with alpha-tocopherol or beta-carotene was associated with a decrease in VEGF-D levels over time. Although the mechanism through which these supplements affect cancer etiolog remains unclear, our results support the hypothesis that vitamin E and beta-carotene may influence cancer progression through VEGF-mediated lymphangiogenesis. J. Nutr. 141: 2030-2034, 2011.

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