Associations of α- and γ-tocopherol during early life with lung function in childhood

Abstract

Background: Tocopherol isoforms may regulate child lung growth and spirometric measures. Objective: Our aim was to determine the extent to which plasma a-tocopherol (a-T) or g-tocopherol (g-T) isoform levels in early childhood or in utero are associated with childhood lung function. Methods: We included 622 participants in the Project Viva cohort who had lung function at a mid-childhood visit (age 6-10 years). Maternal and child tocopherol isoform levels were measured by HPLC at the second trimester and 3 years of age, respectively. Multivariable linear regression models (adjusted for mid-childhood body mass index z scores, maternal education, smoking in pregnancy, and prenatal particulate matter with diameter of <2.5 micrometers (PM 2.5) particulate exposure) stratified by tertiles of child g-T level were used to assess the association of aT levels with FEV 1 and forced vital capacity (FVC) percent predicted. Similarly, models stratified by child aT tertile evaluated associations of g-T levels with lung function. We performed similar analyses with maternal second trimester tocopherol isoform levels. Results: The median maternal second trimester aT level was 63 mM (interquartile range 5 47-82). The median early-childhood level was 25 mM (interquartile range 5 20-33 mM). In the lowest tertile of early-childhood g-T, children with a higher aT level (per 10 mM) had a higher mid-childhood FEV 1 percent predicted (b 5 3.09; 95% CI 5 0.58-5.59 and a higher FVC percent predicted (b 5 2.77; 95% CI 5 0.47-5.06). This protective association of aT was lost at higher g-T levels. We did not see any consistent associations of second trimester levels of either aT or g-T with mid-childhood FEV 1 or FVC. Conclusion: When g-T levels were in the lowest tertile, a higher early-childhood aT level was associated with better lung function at mid-childhood. Second trimester maternal plasma aT concentration was 3-fold higher than in the adult nonpregnant female population.

Associations between vitamin E status and bone mineral density in children and adolescents aged 8–19 years: Evidence based on NHANES 2005–2006, 2017–2018

“…Our study identifies an inverse relationship between vitamin E and BMD in children and adolescents. Vitamin E supplementation during childhood may be helpful in issues like lung function, kwashiorkor, or liver disease [47][48][49]. Vitamin E supplementation for children and adolescents could not improve bone health or even damage bone health.…”

The Application of Supercritical Fluids Technology to Recover Healthy Valuable Compounds from Marine and Agricultural Food Processing By-Products: A Review

“…α-tocopherol is the substance with the strongest antioxidant capacity among the eight forms of vitamin E, and is widely used in the treatment of illness related to human oxidative damage [61]. Besides its antioxidant properties, recent studies have confirmed the important role of αtocopherol in other health problems, such as obesity [62], fatty liver [63], heart disease [64], lung function [65], inter alia. In addition, the results of some animal studies have shown that α-tocopherol reverses neurodegeneration by reducing oxidative stress, which promotes brain health [66].…”

Diet Modifications in Primary Prevention of Asthma. Where Do We Stand?

“…Higher α-tocopherol levels in 3-year-old children were related to better lung function at the age of 7 years, but only if γ-tocopherol levels were low. The protective effect of α -tocopherol vanished when γ-tocopherol levels were higher [ 96 ].…”