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Research: SCHUENEMANN and colleague
Listed in Issue 77
Abstract
SCHUENEMANN and colleagues, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York, 207 Farber Hall, 3435 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214-3000, USA, HJS@buffalo.edu, studied the possible relationships of a number of dietary carotenoids and vitamins C and E with lung function and respiratory health .
Background
There is an increasing body of data to indicate a positive correlation between dietary antioxidant vitamins and lung function . However, dietary carotenoids other than beta-carotene have been little studied in this regard.
Methodology
The study was carried out from 1995 to 1998. Subjects were a random sample of 1,616 men and women resident in western New York State, aged 35-79 years, who had no respiratory disease . Study measurements of lung function were forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced vital capacity, both as the percentage of the predicted value (FEV1% and FVC% respectively). Intakes of a range of carotenoids (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein/zeaxanthin and lycopene ) and vitamins C and E were also recorded. Possible associations between lung function measures and antioxidant vitamin intakes were explored after adjusting the data for height, age, gender, race, total energy intake, smoking and other possible influences.
Results
There were significant correlations of lutein/zeaxanthin, vitamin C and vitamin E with FEV1% and FVC% (analysed by multiple linear regression). Analysis of all of the antioxidant vitamins simultaneously revealed that the strongest associations were between vitamin E and FEV1% and between lutein/zeaxanthin and FVC% . Decreases of 1 standard deviation (SD) of dietary vitamin E or lutein/zeaxanthin were associated with differences in FEV1 and FVC that were equivalent to about 1-2 years of ageing .
Conclusion
The results indicate that dietary carotenoids, including those other than beta-carotene, and vitamins C and E may contribute to respiratory health .
References
Schuenemann HJ et al. Lung function in relation to intake of carotenoids and other antioxidant vitamins in a population-based study. American Journal of Epidemiology 155 (5): 463-71. Mar 2002.
Comment
Another strong reason for resisting the EU Supplement Directive to water down antioxidant dosages.
