Josiane Arnaud, Anne-Claire Vergnaud, Sébastien Czernichow, Serge Hercberg, Alain Favier, Pilar Galan, Rachel R. Huxley, Namanjeet Ahluwalia, Henri Faure, Hamant, Sarah, Unité de Recherche en Epidémiologie Nutritionnelle (UREN), Université Paris 13 (UP13)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers [CNAM] (CNAM), HESAM Université - Communauté d'universités et d'établissements Hautes écoles Sorbonne Arts et métiers université (HESAM)-HESAM Université - Communauté d'universités et d'établissements Hautes écoles Sorbonne Arts et métiers université (HESAM)-Université Sorbonne Paris Cité (USPC)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Service interhospitalier de santé publique, médecine sociale, information médicale & biostatistiques, Université Paris 13 (UP13)-Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) (AP-HP)-Hôpital Avicenne [AP-HP], Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) (AP-HP), Département de biologie intégrée, CHU Grenoble-Hôpital Michallon, Laboratoire de bioénergétique fondamentale et appliquée (LBFA), Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), The George Institute for International Health, The University of Sydney, Epidémiologie et Analyses en Santé Publique : risques, maladies chroniques et handicap (LEASP), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Université Sorbonne Paris Cité (USPC)-Université Paris 13 (UP13)-Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers [CNAM] (CNAM)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Hôpital Avicenne-Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) (APHP)-Université Paris 13 (UP13), Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA), Epidémiologie et analyses en santé publique : risques, maladies chroniques et handicaps (LEASP), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), and Université Paris 13 (UP13)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers [CNAM] (CNAM)-Université Sorbonne Paris Cité (USPC)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)
International audience; BACKGROUND: Limited observational evidence suggests lower antioxidant concentrations in individuals with the metabolic syndrome (MetS); few randomized controlled trials have addressed the effect of multiple antioxidants on the risk of MetS. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to examine the effect of antioxidant supplementation for 7.5 y on the incidence of MetS and the epidemiologic association between baseline serum antioxidant concentrations and the prospective risk of MetS. DESIGN: Adults (n = 5220) participating in the SUpplementation en VItamines et Minéraux AntioXydants (SU.VI.MAX) primary prevention trial were randomly assigned to receive a supplement containing a combination of antioxidants (vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, zinc, and selenium) at nutritional doses or a placebo. Subjects were free of MetS at baseline and were followed for 7.5 y. RESULTS: Antioxidant supplementation for 7.5 y did not affect the risk of MetS. Baseline serum antioxidant concentrations of beta-carotene and vitamin C, however, were negatively associated with the risk of MetS; the adjusted odds ratios (and 95% CIs) for the highest compared with the lowest tertile were 0.34 (0.21, 0.53; P for trend = 0.0002) and 0.53 (0.35, 0.80; P for trend = 0.01), respectively. Baseline serum zinc concentrations were positively associated with the risk of developing MetS; the adjusted odds ratio (and 95% CI) for the highest compared with the lowest tertile was 1.81 (1.20, 2.72; P for trend = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The experimental finding of no beneficial effects of antioxidant supplementation in a generally well-nourished population is consistent with recent reports of a lack of efficacy of antioxidant supplements. However, the relations observed between the risk of MetS and baseline serum antioxidant concentrations, which probably reflect associations with overall dietary patterns, do support the current recommendations to consume antioxidant-rich foods. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00272428.