title: Elevated plasma gamma-tocopherol and decreased alpha-tocopherol in men are associated with inflammatory markers and decreased plasma 25-OH vitamin D.
abstract: Chronic inflammation is a risk factor for many diseases of aging. Endogenous oxidants are thought to mediate the effects of inflammation and gamma-Tocopherol (gamma-Toc) may mitigate damage from nitrogen-based oxidants; however, no physiological requirement for gamma-Toc has been established. Regulation of tocopherols and their functional significance are poorly defined, thereby limiting their application in prevention. Using stored plasma samples from 657 male control subjects in a previous study of prostate cancer, we have analyzed associations of the tocopherols, inflammation markers, and 25-hydroxy (OH) vitamin D. Plasma alpha-Toc and gamma-Toc were inversely correlated, whereas delta-Toc and alpha-Toc levels were positively correlated, suggesting a unique regulatory mechanism. gamma-Toc levels were positively and alpha-Toc negatively associated with plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and urinary isoprostane F(2t), which are markers of inflammation and oxidation. Ethnic variability in tocopherols was observed; however, this may be explained by differences in plasma 25-OH vitamin D, as gamma-Toc levels varied inversely and alpha-Toc positively with 25-OH vitamin D. In these data, all-cause mortality appeared to be positively associated with CRP and inversely with 25-OH vitamin D. We hypothesize that plasma levels of tocopherols may serve as markers of systemic inflammation, complicating epidemiologic assessment of their role in cancer etiology.
authors.affiliation: University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813, USA. bob@crch.hawaii.edu
authors.forename: Robert V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Cooney
authors.forename: Adrian A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Franke
authors.forename: Lynne R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Wilkens
authors.forename: Jasmeet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Laurence N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Kolonel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000097:blood*; D024504:gamma-Tocopherol / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014807:Vitamin D; D024504:gamma-Tocopherol; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol