Intake and serum concentrations of α-tocopherol in relation to fractures in elderly women and men: 2 cohort studies.
BACKGROUND
A reduction in the formation of free radicals and oxidative stress might reduce the rate of bone loss and muscle wasting.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to determine whether α-tocopherol intake or serum concentrations are associated with fracture risk in older women and men.


METHODS
Two cohort studies, the Swedish Mammography Cohort (SMC; n = 61,433 women) and the Uppsala Longitudinal Study of Adult Men (ULSAM; n = 1138 men), were used.


RESULTS
During 19 y of follow-up, 14,738 women in the SMC experienced a first fracture at any site (3871 hip fractures). A higher hip fracture rate was observed with lower intakes of α-tocopherol. Compared with the highest quintile of intake, the lowest quintile had a multivariable-adjusted HR of 1.86 (95% CI: 1.67, 2.06). The HR of any fracture was 1.20 (95% CI: 1.14, 1.28). α-Tocopherol-containing supplement use was associated with a reduced rate of hip fracture (HR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.65, 0.93) and any fracture (HR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.78, 0.94). Compared with the highest quintile of α-tocopherol intake in ULSAM (follow-up: 12 y), lower intakes (quintiles 1-4) were associated with a higher rate of hip fracture (HR: 3.33; 95% CI: 1.43, 7.76) and any fracture (HR: 1.84; 95% CI: 1.18, 2.88). The HR for hip fracture in men for each 1-SD decrease in serum α-tocopherol was 1.58 (95% CI: 1.13, 2.22) and for any fracture was 1.23 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.48).


CONCLUSIONS
Low intakes and low serum concentrations of α-tocopherol are associated with an increased rate of fracture in elderly women and men.
Department of Surgical Sciences, Orthopedics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (KM and LB); the Division of Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden (AW); the School of Health and Social Studies, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden (JÄ); the Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Geriatrics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (JÄ); and the Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (HM).
Karl
K
Michaëlsson
Alicja
A
Wolk
Liisa
L
Byberg
Johan
J
Ärnlöv
Håkan
H
Melhus
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D004034:Diet Surveys; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D044465:White People; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*
D024502:alpha-Tocopherol