Prevention

Avoid giving beta-carotene ^a

Why?

• It increases mortality, despite reducing non-fatal myocardial infarction. ^a

Beta-carotene reduces non-fatal MI but increases mortality

Patient	Treatment	Comparison	Outcome	CER	RRR (95% CI)	NNT (95% CI)
myocardial infarction a	beta-carotene	placebo	death at 6 years	13%	33% (1% to 54%)	24 (12 to 1200)
			non-fatal MI at 6 years	8.9%	-80% (-160% to -25%)	-14 (-35 to -9)