Abstract
BACKGROUND:
A neuroprotective effect of dietary antioxidants on Parkinson’s disease (PD) risk has been suggested, but epidemiological evidence is limited.
OBJECTIVES:
To examine the associations between intake of dietary antioxidant vitamins and total antioxidant capacity and risk of PD.
METHODS:
We prospectively assessed the relationships of dietary antioxidant vitamins C and E, ß-carotene, and total antioxidant capacity with PD risk in two population-based cohorts (38,937 women and 45,837 men).
RESULTS:
During a mean 14.9-year follow-up period, 1,329 PD cases were identified. Dietary intake of ß-carotene was associated with a lower risk of PD (hazard ratio: 0.86; 95% confidence interval: 0.78-0.95; Ptrend < 0.01 for women and hazard ratio: 0.91; 95% confidence interval: 0.84-0.99; Ptrend = 0.05 for men). An inverse association between dietary vitamin E and PD risk was found in women (hazard ratio: 0.87; 95% confidence interval: 0.79-0.96; Ptrend = 0.02). Dietary intake of vitamin C was inversely associated with PD risk in women at borderline significance (hazard ratio: 0.91; 95% confidence interval: 0.83-1.00; Ptrend = 0.04). There was no association between dietary total antioxidant capacity and PD risk in either women (hazard ratio: 0.93; 95% confidence interval: 0.84-1.02; Ptrend = 0.35) or men (hazard ratio: 1.00; 95% confidence interval: 0.93-1.07; Ptrend = 0.97).
CONCLUSION:
Intake of dietary vitamin E and ß-carotene was associated with a lower risk of PD.