There are no observational studies or controlled trials of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and circulating α-tocopherol (vitamin E) for prevention of ALS. This study addresses that gap. The study population comprised 29,127 Finnish male smokers, aged 50-69 years, who participated in the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention (ATBC) Study, which is both a prospective cohort and a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of α-tocopherol (50 mg/day) and β-carotene (20 mg/day). Serum α-tocopherol and β-carotene was assayed at baseline (1985 - 1988). Follow-up (median 16.7 years) continued through 2004. ALS cases were identified through the national Hospital Discharge Register with diagnostic verification by hospital records and death certificates. During 407,260 person-years of follow-up, 50 men were identified with ALS. For males with serum α-tocopherol concentration above the median (≥ 11.6 mg/l), the age-adjusted relative risk (RR) compared to α-tocopherol below the median, was 0.56 (95% confidence interval 0.32 - 0.99), p = 0.046. The RR among α-tocopherol supplement recipients was 0.75 (95% CI 0.32 - 1.79), p = 0.52. Neither serum β-carotene level nor β-carotene supplementation was associated with ALS. In conclusion, the results are consistent with a hypothesized protective effect of α-tocopherol on ALS risk. However, pooled analyses of cohorts with serum and controlled trials are needed to clarify the role of α-tocopherol in ALS risk.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3673294 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/21678421.2012.745570 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Biophysical and spectroscopical insights into structural modulation of species in the aggregation pathway of superoxide dismutase 1.
Commun Chem
January 2025
Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India.
Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) aggregation is implicated in the development of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Despite knowledge of the role of SOD1 aggregation, the mechanistic understanding remains elusive. Our investigation aimed to unravel the complex steps involved in SOD1 aggregation associated with ALS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTDP-43 nuclear retention is antagonized by hypo-phosphorylation of its C-terminus in the cytoplasm.
Commun Biol
January 2025
Université Paris-Saclay, INSERM U1204, Univ Evry, Structure-Activité des Biomolécules Normales et Pathologiques (SABNP), Evry-Courcouronnes, France.
Protein aggregation is a hallmark of many neurodegenerative disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), in which TDP-43, a nuclear RNA-binding protein, forms cytoplasmic inclusions. Here, we have developed a robust and automated method to assess protein self-assembly in the cytoplasm using microtubules as nanoplatforms. Importantly, we have analyzed specifically the self-assembly of full-length TDP-43 and its mRNA binding that are regulated by the phosphorylation of its self-adhesive C-terminus, which is the recipient of many pathological mutations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStructural insights into the role of reduced cysteine residues in SOD1 amyloid filament formation.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
February 2025
Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, CALS, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
The formation of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) filaments has been implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Although the disulfide bond formed between Cys57 and Cys146 in the active state has been well studied, the role of the reduced cysteine residues, Cys6 and Cys111, in SOD1 filament formation remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of reduced cysteine residues by determining and comparing cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of wild-type (WT) and C6A/C111A SOD1 filaments under thiol-based reducing and metal-depriving conditions, starting with protein samples possessing enzymatic activity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSpinocerebellar Ataxia Type 2: A Review and Personal Perspective.
Neurol Genet
February 2025
University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are dominantly inherited diseases that lead to neurodegeneration in the cerebellum and other parts of the nervous system. This review examines the progress that has been made in SCA2 from its initial clinical description to discovery of DNA CAG-repeat expansions in the gene. repeat alleles cover the range from recessive and dominant mendelian alleles to risk alleles for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAssessment of upper GI motor activity and GI symptoms in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: an observational study.
Front Neurol
January 2025
Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
Background/aims: Oro-pharyngeal dysfunction has been reported in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). We aimed to assess ALS patients upper gastrointestinal (GI) motor activity and GI symptoms according to bulbar and spinal onset and severity of ALS.
Methods: ALS bulbar (B) and spinal (S) patients with ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-r) ≥35, bulbar sub-score ≥10, and Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) >50%, underwent to: Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES); esophageal manometry; gastric emptying; Rome symptom questionnaire.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!