Antioxidants and pulmonary function among police officers.
OBJECTIVE
To examine associations of dietary antioxidant intake and pulmonary function.


METHODS
Antioxidant data (vitamins A, C, D, E, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids) were abstracted from food frequency questionnaires. Pulmonary function was measured using American Thoracic Society criteria. We used analysis of variance to investigate associations.


RESULTS
Among 79 police officers (57% male), forced vital capacity was positively and significantly associated with vitamin A after adjustment for age, gender, height, race, smoking status, and pack-years of smoking, and with magnesium after adjustment for those risk factors plus total calories, all supplement use, and abdominal height. Among current/former smokers only, mean levels of all pulmonary function measures were significantly associated with vitamin E; smoking status significantly modified these relationships.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased intake of vitamin A, vitamin E (among current/former smokers only), and magnesium was associated with better pulmonary function.
Biostatistics and Epidemiology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1095 Willowdale Rd., Morgantown, WV 26505-2888, USA. lcharles@cdc.gov
Luenda E
LE
Charles
Cecil M
CM
Burchfiel
Anna
A
Mnatsakanova
Desta
D
Fekedulegn
Cathy
C
Tinney-Zara
P Nedra
PN
Joseph
Holger J
HJ
Schunemann
John M
JM
Violanti
Michael E
ME
Andrew
Heather M
HM
Ochs-Balcom
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005540:Forced Expiratory Flow Rates / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D016495:Police; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000187:drug effects*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000975:Antioxidants; D014815:Vitamins