Plasma levels of antioxidant vitamins in relation to ischemic heart disease and cancer

Cross-sectional surveys were conducted on the well-known North-South gradient of ischemic heart disease (IHD) in the northern hemisphere to assess possible associations between plasma levels of essential antioxidant nutrients (vitamins A, C, E, and beta-carotene and selenium) and mortality from IHD and cancer. It was concluded that the maximum prophylactic effect of the essential antioxidants requires minimum daily intakes of 15 mg, 100 mg, and 60 IU for beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E, respectively, and that these may be higher when using diets enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acids. The clinical data are statistically summarized and discus0782sed.