@entity65 and @entity5 constitute major public health problems in all industrialized countries, where they are the main causes of premature mortality. There is a large body of evidence suggesting that free-radical production can directly or indirectly play a major role in cellular processes implicated in @entity731 and @entity105 . Here we present mechanistic data and results of epidemiologic studies on the relationship between antioxidant @entity2221 intake or biochemical status and the risk of @entity5 and @entity65 . Most epidemiologic data obtained on this topic were based on an observational approach, i.e., ecologic, case-control, or prospective studies. All these studies indicate that a high dietary intake or high blood concentrations of antioxidant @entity2221 are associated with a reduced risk of @entity65 and @entity5 at several common sites. Although the results of these studies are convergent, they merely suggest a relationship at the population and individual level but do not affirm a causality link. Only intervention studies (randomized trials), by specifically changing antioxidant @entity2221 intake, can provide conclusive answers. The apparent discrepancies between the results of four recently published trials may be explained by the type of population (general or high-risk subjects), the differing doses of supplementation (nutritional levels or higher), the number of antioxidants tested (one, two, or more), and the type of administration (alone or in balanced association). It thus appears that a low risk of pathologies may be related to multiple nutrients consumed at nutritional doses and in combination. Optimal effects may be expected with a combination of nutrients at levels similar to those found in a healthy diet. A single antioxidant @entity2221 given at high doses in subjects with high risk of pathologies (smokers, asbestos-exposed subjects) may not have substantial benefits and could even have negative consequences.

The potential role of antioxidant vitamins in preventing @entity65 and XXXX .

@entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['cancers', 'cancer'] @entity2221 :: ('CHEBI:33229', 'Chemical') :: ['vitamins', 'vitamin'] @entity731 :: ('MESH:D050197', 'Disease') :: ['atherosclerosis'] @entity105 :: ('MESH:D063646', 'Disease') :: ['carcinogenesis'] @entity65 :: ('MESH:D002318', 'Disease') :: ['cardiovascular diseases', 'Cardiovascular diseases']
@entity5 :: (MESH:D009369,Disease) :: ['cancers']
