Table 1
Prediagnostic serum concentrations of α tocopherol, β carotene and retinol, among selected cases of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus and their race-sex-age matched controls, Washington County, Maryland
| Cases | Controls | Difference1-150 | 95% confidence limits | % difference 1-151 | |
| Rheumatoid arthritis: | |||||
| Number | 21 | 84 | |||
| Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | ||||
| α tocopherol (mg/dl) | 1.07 (0.23) | 1.13 (0.28) | −0.05 | −0.20, 0.10 | −4.7 |
| β carotene (μg/dl) | 16.6 (9.2) | 23.4 (9.6) | −6.9 | −13.1, −0.6 | −29.3 |
| Retinol (μg/dl) | 56.2 (14.1) | 60.5 (11.3) | −4.3 | −10.0, 1.4 | −7.1 |
| Systemic lupus erythematosus: | |||||
| Number | 6 | 24 | |||
| Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | ||||
| α tocopherol (mg/dl) | 0.64 (0.09) | 0.80 (0.21) | −0.17 | −0.41, 0.08 | −20.6 |
| β carotene (μg/dl) | 17.2 (9.6) | 19.8 (5.5) | −2.6 | −10.2, 5.04 | −13.1 |
| Retinol (μg/dl) | 43.7 (12.6) | 51.2 (3.8) | −7.5 | −19.1, 4.1 | −14.6 |
