Supplementation with vitamins C, E, beta-carotene and selenium has no effect on anti-oxidant status and immune responses in allergic adults: a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Anti-oxidants are of growing interest in early treatment and prevention of allergic diseases in early life, but the effects on allergen-specific immune responses need to be documented further before intervention studies in infants are undertaken. The aim of this study in adults was to determine the effects of dietary anti-oxidants on allergen-specific immune responses in sensitized individuals.


METHODS
In a randomized controlled trial, 54 allergic adults received an anti-oxidant supplement (n=36) comprising beta-carotene (9 mg/day), vitamin C (1500 mg/day), vitamin E (130 mg/day), zinc (45 mg/day), selenium (76 microg/day) and garlic (150 mg/day) or a placebo (n=18) for 4 weeks. Anti-oxidant capacity (AC), serum levels of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene and selenium, peripheral blood responses, exhaled nitric oxide (eNO), as a marker of airway inflammation, and plasma F(2) isoprostanes, as a measure of oxidative stress, were measured before and after supplementation.


RESULTS
Anti-oxidant supplementation resulted in significant increases in serum levels of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene and selenium levels, compared with the placebo group (P<0.001). There was no change in serum AC, plasma F(2)-isoprostanes, eNO or immune responses following supplementation with anti-oxidants compared with placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
Supplementation with anti-oxidants resulted in significantly increased levels of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene and selenium but no change in immune responses, serum AC or plasma F(2)-isoprostanes.
Dunstan
J A
JA
School of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia. susanp@ichr.uwa.edu.au
Breckler
L
L
Hale
J
J
Lehmann
H
H
Franklin
P
P
Lyons
G
G
Ching
S Y L
SY
Mori
T A
TA
Barden
A
A
Prescott
S L
SL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D012643:Selenium / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000975:Antioxidants; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D012643:Selenium; D001205:Ascorbic Acid