Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study
The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene on lung cancer incidence.
Secondary objectives are to evaluate the effects of alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene on the incidence of other major cancers and to study overall and cause-specific mortality and incidence of other non-communicable diseases.
Overview
- Acronym
- ATBC
- Website
- ATBC
- Investigators
-
- Contacts
-
General Design
- Study design
- Clinical trial
- Start - End Year
- 1985 - 1993
- General Information on Follow Up (profile, frequency)
-
Participants completed 2 visits at baseline and were followed-up for 5 to 8 years until death or trial closure. Follow-up consisted of 3 visits annually to the local field center.
- Recruitment Target
-
- Individuals
- Number of Participants
- 29,133
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
- 28,871
- Supplementary Information
-
The ATBC study is a large, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2x2 factorial primary prevention trial.
Access
Availability of data and biosamples
| Possible Access to Data | |
| Possible Access to Biosamples | |
| Other |
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Marker Paper
Albanes D, Heinonen OP, Taylor PR, et al. Alpha-Tocopherol and beta-carotene supplements and lung cancer incidence in the alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene cancer prevention study: effects of base-line characteristics and study compliance. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 1996; 88(21):1560-1570.
PUBMED 8901854Supplementary Information
The ATBC study was conducted by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI).
Reproducibility and validity of dietary assessment instruments. II. A qualitative food frequency questionnaire. Pietinen P, Hartman AM, Haapa E, Räsänen L, Haapakoski J, Palmgren J, Albanes D, Virtamo J, Huttunen JK.Am J Epidemiol. 1988 Sep;128(3):667-76
Effects of α-tocopherol and β-carotene supplementation on cancer incidence and mortality: 18-year postintervention follow-up of the Alpha-tocopherol, Beta-carotene Cancer Prevention Study. Virtamo J, Taylor PR, Kontto J, Männistö S, Utriainen M, Weinstein SJ, Huttunen J, Albanes D.Int J Cancer. 2014 Jul 1;135(1):178-85
Timeline
Populations
The randomized Alpha-tocopherol group (50 mg/day) consisted of men aged between 50 and 69 years old, smoking five or more cigarettes per day at study entry and residing in southwestern Finland.
Selection Criteria
- Gender
-
Men only
- Minimum age
-
50
- Maximum age
-
69
- Countries
-
- Finland
- Territory
- Southwestern Finland
- Health Status
-
- Participants were excluded if they have: proven malignancy other than nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ; severe angina on exertion; chronic renal insufficiency; cirrhosis of liver; chronic alcoholism; other medical problems such as psychiatric or physical disorder limiting their ability to participate.
- Other Criteria
- Participants were included in the study if they smoked at least five cigarettes per day. They are excluded if they are treated with anticoagulants agents, or currently use supplements containing vitamin E (>20 mg/d) or vitamin A (>20,000 IU/d = 4000 retinol equivalents) or beta-carotene (>6 mg/day).
Sources of Recruitment
- General Population
-
- Selected sample
- Supplementary Information
-
Participants were recruited from the total population of the 14 adjoining areas of southwestern Finland.
Sample Size
- Number of Participants
- 7,286
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
- 7,286
Data Collection Events
| # | Name | Data sources | Data sources - Biosamples | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | ATBC - Alpha-tocopherol Group - Baseline |
|
|
1985 (April) | 1988 (June) |
| 1 | ATBC - Alpha-tocopherol Group - Follow-up |
|
1985 (April) | 1993 (April) |
The randomized Beta-carotene group (20mg/day) consisted of men aged between 50 and 69 years old, smoking five or more cigarettes per day at study entry and residing in southwestern Finland.
Selection Criteria
- Gender
-
Men only
- Minimum age
-
50
- Maximum age
-
69
- Countries
-
- Finland
- Territory
- Southwestern Finland
- Health Status
-
- Participants were excluded if they have: proven malignancy other than nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ; severe angina on exertion; chronic renal insufficiency; cirrhosis of liver; chronic alcoholism; other medical problems such as psychiatric or physical disorder limiting their ability to participate.
- Other Criteria
- Participants were included in the study if they smoked at least five cigarettes per day. They are excluded if they are treated with anticoagulants agents, or currently use supplements containing vitamin E (>20 mg/d) or vitamin A (>20,000 IU/d = 4000 retinol equivalents) or beta-carotene (>6 mg/day).
Sources of Recruitment
- General Population
-
- Selected sample
- Supplementary Information
-
Participants were recruited from the total population of the 14 adjoining areas of southwestern Finland.
Sample Size
- Number of Participants
- 7,282
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
- 7,282
Data Collection Events
| # | Name | Data sources | Data sources - Biosamples | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | ATBC - Beta-carotene Group - Baseline |
|
|
1985 (April) | 1988 (June) |
| 1 | ATBC - Beta-carotene Group - Follow-up |
|
1985 (April) | 1993 (April) |
The randomized Alpha-tocopherol (50mg/day) plus beta-carotene (20mg/day) group consisted of men aged between 50 and 69 years old, smoking five or more cigarettes per day at study entry and residing in southwestern Finland.
Selection Criteria
- Gender
-
Men only
- Minimum age
-
50
- Maximum age
-
69
- Countries
-
- Finland
- Territory
- Southwestern Finland
- Health Status
-
- Participants were excluded if they have: proven malignancy other than nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ; severe angina on exertion; chronic renal insufficiency; cirrhosis of liver; chronic alcoholism; other medical problems such as psychiatric or physical disorder limiting their ability to participate.
- Other Criteria
- Participants were included in the study if they smoked at least five cigarettes per day. They are excluded if they are treated with anticoagulants agents, or currently use supplements containing vitamin E (>20 mg/d) or vitamin A (>20,000 IU/d = 4000 retinol equivalents) or beta-carotene (>6 mg/day).
Sources of Recruitment
- General Population
-
- Selected sample
- Supplementary Information
-
Participants were recruited from the total population of the 14 adjoining areas of southwestern Finland.
Sample Size
- Number of Participants
- 7,278
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
- 7,278
Data Collection Events
| # | Name | Data sources | Data sources - Biosamples | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | ATBC - Alpha-tocopherol plus beta-carotene Group - Baseline |
|
|
1985 (April) | 1988 (June) |
| 1 | ATBC - Alpha-tocopherol plus beta-carotene Group - Follow-up |
|
1985 (April) | 1993 (April) |
The randomized Placebo group consisted of men aged between 50 and 69 years old, smoking five or more cigarettes per day at study entry and residing in southwestern Finland.
Selection Criteria
- Gender
-
Men only
- Minimum age
-
50
- Maximum age
-
69
- Countries
-
- Finland
- Territory
- Southwestern Finland
- Health Status
-
- Participants were excluded if they have: proven malignancy other than nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ; severe angina on exertion; chronic renal insufficiency; cirrhosis of liver; chronic alcoholism; other medical problems such as psychiatric or physical disorder limiting their ability to participate.
- Other Criteria
- Participants were included in the study if they smoked at least five cigarettes per day. They are excluded if they are treated with anticoagulants agents, or currently use supplements containing vitamin E (>20 mg/d) or vitamin A (>20,000 IU/d = 4000 retinol equivalents) or beta-carotene (>6 mg/day).
Sources of Recruitment
- General Population
-
- Selected sample
- Supplementary Information
-
Participants were recruited from the total population of the 14 adjoining areas of southwestern Finland.
Sample Size
- Number of Participants
- 7,287
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
- 7,287
Data Collection Events
| # | Name | Data sources | Data sources - Biosamples | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | ATBC - Placebo Group - Baseline |
|
|
1985 (April) | 1988 (June) |
| 1 | ATBC - Placebo Group - Follow-up |
|
1985 (April) | 1993 (April) |
Participating Studies
| Acronym | Name | Study design | Countries |
|---|
Harmonization Initiatives Included
| Acronym | Name |
|---|
Datasets
| Name | Data Collection Events | Variables |
|---|
Areas of Information Collected
- Socio-demographic and economic characteristics
- Death
- Lifestyle and behaviours
- Physical measures and assessments
- Birth, pregnancy and reproductive health history
- Laboratory measures
- Perception of health, quality of life, development and functional limitations
- Cognition, personality and psychological measures and assessments
- Diseases
- Life events, life plans, beliefs and values
- Symptoms and signs
- Preschool, school and work life
- Medication and supplements
- Social environment and relationships
- Non-pharmacological interventions
- Physical environment
- Health and community care services utilization
- Administrative information
Variables Content Summary
Areas of Information Collected
Areas of Information Collected per per Population and Data Collection Event
Networks
| Acronym | Name | Harmonization Initiatives | Individual Studies |
|---|