title: Serum tocopherol levels and vitamin E intake are associated with lung function in the normative aging study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The results of studies assessing relationships between vitamin E intake and status and lung function are conflicting. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of vitamin E intake and serum levels of tocopherol isoforms on lung function in a cross-sectional sample of 580 men from the Normative Aging Study, a longitudinal aging study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Regression models were used to look at associations of serum tocopherol isoform levels and vitamin E intake with lung function parameters after adjustment for confounders. Vitamin E intake was measured using a food frequency questionnaire and serum levels of γ, α, and δ-tocopherol levels were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjustment for potential confounders, serum γ-tocopherol had a significant inverse association with forced vital capacity (β = -0.10, p = 0.05). Alpha and δ-tocopherol were not associated with any lung function parameter. After classifying COPD status according to Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage criteria, serum levels of δ-tocopherol were lower in participants with more severe COPD (p = 0.01). Serum levels of δ-tocopherol were also lower in participants with greater levels of smoking (p = 0.02). Both vitamin E intake (β = 0.03, p = 0.02; β = 0.03, p = 0.01) and use of vitamin E supplements (β = 0.05, p = 0.03; β = 0.06. p = 0.02) were positively associated with FEV1 and FVC, after adjusting for confounders. Subjects who took vitamin E supplements had significantly higher α-tocopherol levels (p < 0.0001) and lower γ-tocopherol levels (p < 0.0001) than non-users.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, there is a positive association between dietary vitamin E intake and lung function, and evidence of an inverse relationship between serum levels of γ-tocopherol and lung function.
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska Medical Center, School of Allied Health Professions, Medical Nutrition Education, 984045 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4045, USA. Electronic address: ckhanson@unmc.edu.
authors.forename: Corrine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Public Health, 984375 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4375, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lyden
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Furtado
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Hannia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System and Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02130, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sparrow
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System and Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02130, USA.
authors.forename: Pantel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vokonas
authors.affiliation: Channing Laboratory and Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, USA.
authors.forename: Augusto A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Litonjua
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000097:blood*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055815:Young Adult; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000097:blood*; D024504:gamma-Tocopherol / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014810:Vitamin E; D024504:gamma-Tocopherol; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; C479072:delta-tocopherol; D024505:Tocopherols
keywords: COPD; Diet; Inflammation; Lung function; Tocopherols; Vitamin E