TABLE 1.
Baseline characteristics according to vitamin E and vitamin C treatment assignment in 14,641 men from the Physicians’ Health Study II1
| Vitamin E |
Vitamin C |
|||
| Self-reported baseline characteristics | Active (n = 7315) | Placebo (n = 7326) | Active (n = 7329) | Placebo (n = 7312) |
| Age (y) | 64.2 ± 9.12 | 64.3 ± 9.2 | 64.3 ± 9.2 | 64.3 ± 9.1 |
| Age [n (%)] | ||||
| 50–59 y | 2940 (40.2) | 2951 (40.3) | 2953 (40.3) | 2938 (40.2) |
| 60–69 y | 2349 (32.1) | 2346 (32.0) | 2347 (32.0) | 2348 (32.1) |
| ≥70 y | 2026 (27.7) | 2029 (27.7) | 2029 (27.7) | 2026 (27.7) |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 26.0 ± 3.6 | 26.0 ± 3.7 | 26.0 ± 3.7 | 26.0 ± 3.7 |
| Cigarette smoking [n (%)] | ||||
| Never | 4104 (56.1) | 4148 (56.7) | 4135 (56.5) | 4117 (56.4) |
| Former | 2967 (40.6) | 2885 (39.4) | 2908 (39.7) | 2944 (40.3) |
| Current | 239 (3.3) | 285 (3.9) | 280 (3.8) | 244 (3.3) |
| Exercise ≥1 time/wk [n (%)] | ||||
| No | 2739 (38.4) | 2766 (38.7) | 2759 (38.5) | 2746 (38.6) |
| Yes | 4389 (61.6) | 4383 (61.3) | 4408 (61.5) | 4364 (61.4) |
| Alcohol consumption [n (%)] | ||||
| Rarely/never | 1372 (18.9) | 1358 (18.7) | 1364 (18.7) | 1366 (18.8) |
| ≥1 drink/mo | 5893 (81.1) | 5923 (81.4) | 5920 (81.3) | 5896 (81.2) |
| Current aspirin use [n (%)] | ||||
| No | 1627 (22.6) | 1634 (22.6) | 1638 (22.6) | 1623 (22.6) |
| Yes | 5578 (77.4) | 5589 (77.4) | 5605 (77.4) | 5562 (77.4) |
| Parental history of cancers3 [n (%)] | ||||
| No | 2906 (46.5) | 2931 (46.5) | 2927 (46.5) | 2910 (46.5) |
| Yes | 3344 (53.5) | 3377 (53.5) | 3371 (53.5) | 3350 (53.5) |
| Parental history of prostate cancer3 [n (%)] | ||||
| No | 5713 (89.6) | 5792 (89.8) | 5755 (89.5) | 5750 (89.9) |
| Yes | 663 (10.4) | 661 (10.2) | 678 (10.5) | 646 (10.1) |
| Parental history of colorectal cancer3 [n (%)] | ||||
| No | 5492 (88.0) | 5552 (88.5) | 5535 (88.5) | 5509 (88.1) |
| Yes | 748 (12.0) | 719 (11.5) | 721 (11.5) | 746 (11.9) |
| Self-reported history of cancers3 [n (%)] | ||||
| No | 6678 (91.3) | 6689 (91.3) | 6691 (91.3) | 6676 (91.3) |
| Yes | 637 (8.7) | 637 (8.7) | 638 (8.7) | 636 (8.7) |
| Self-reported history of prostate cancer [n (%)] | ||||
| No | 6983 (95.5) | 6997 (95.5) | 7005 (95.6) | 6975 (95.4) |
| Yes | 332 (4.5) | 329 (4.5) | 324 (4.4) | 337 (4.6) |
| Self-reported history of colorectal cancer [n (%)] | ||||
| No | 7252 (99.1) | 7267 (99.2) | 7270 (99.2) | 7249 (99.1) |
| Yes | 63 (0.9) | 59 (0.8) | 59 (0.8) | 63 (0.9) |
1
The numbers of subgroups do not always sum to totals because of missing information for some variables. P > 0.05 for all comparisons between active and placebo groups of vitamin E and vitamin C, with chi-square tests used for categorical variables and t tests used for continuous variables.
2
Mean ± SD (all such values).
3
Excludes men with missing information on parental history of cancer, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer.