Plasma lycopene and antioxidant vitamins in asthma: the PLAVA study.
OBJECTIVE
Scientific evidence suggests that lycopene and antioxidant vitamins have significant antioxidant and protective effects.


METHODS
This case-control study included 96 subjects (40 asthmatics, 56 healthy control subjects). Baseline blood samples, pulmonary function tests, and clinical and alimentary histories were collected. All subjects were grouped by age, sex, cigarette smoking habit, body mass index, alimentary intake, and atopic status.


RESULTS
Serum lycopene concentration was significantly lower in asthmatic subjects than in healthy control subjects (0.10+/-0.7 micromoL/L vs. 0.16+/-0.8 micromoL/L--p<0.001). Serum vitamin A concentration was significantly lower in asthmatics (2.38+/-0.37 micromoL/L) in respect to control subjects (3.06+/-0.56 micromoL/L) (p<0.01). Plasma serum concentration of vitamin E and beta-carotene were not found to be different in the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Dietary supplementation or adequate intake of lycopene and vitamin A rich foods may be beneficial in asthmatic subjects.
Riccioni
G
G
Human Nutrition, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University G. D'Annunzio, and Respiratory Pathophysiology Center, SS Annunziata Hospital, Chieti, Italy. griccioni@hotmail.com
Bucciarelli
T
T
Mancini
B
B
Di Ilio
C
C
Della Vecchia
R
R
D'Orazio
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D000077276:Lycopene; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D012907:Smoking; D014797:Vital Capacity; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood; D014815:Vitamins / Q000097:blood*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood
D000975:Antioxidants; D014815:Vitamins; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids; D000077276:Lycopene