beta-carotene and Respiratory-Tract-Diseases

The aim of this study was to investigate the relations between plasma levels of antioxidants, beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol, and chronic respiratory symptoms in Dutch adults who never smoked or were long-term former smokers. Cases (who reported one or more respiratory symptoms) and controls were selected from a population-based cross-sectional study. Plasma concentrations of antioxidants were determined in 491 cases and 496 controls. ORs for the presence of chronic respiratory symptoms were estimated for quintiles of plasma antioxidant concentration after adjustment for age, gender, and body mass index. The OR of respiratory symptoms in all but the highest quintile of plasma beta-carotene decreased and were slightly below one. We saw no meaningful relation with plasma alpha-tocopherol.

Topics: Adult; Antioxidants; beta Carotene; Biomarkers; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Chronic Disease; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Netherlands; Odds Ratio; Prevalence; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Retrospective Studies; Smoking; Surveys and Questionnaires; Urban Population; Vitamin E

Ozone exposure has been related to adverse respiratory effects, in particular to lung function decrements. Antioxidant vitamins are free-radical scavengers and could have a protective effect against photo-oxidant exposure. To evaluate whether acute effects of ozone on lung functions could be attenuated by antioxidant vitamin supplementation, we conducted a randomized trial using a double-blind crossover design. Street workers (n = 47) of Mexico City were randomly assigned to take daily a supplement (75 mg vitamin E, 650 mg vitamin C, 15 mg beta carotene) or a placebo and were followed from March to August 1996. Pulmonary function tests were done twice a week at the end of the workday. During the follow-up, the mean 1-h maximum ozone level was 123 ppb (SD = 40). During the first phase, ozone levels were inversely associated with FVC (beta = -1.60 ml/ppb), FEV1 (beta = -2.11 ml/ppb), and FEF25-75 (beta = -4.92 ml/ppb) (p < 0.05) in the placebo group but not in the supplement group. The difference between the two groups was significant for FVC, FEV1, and FEF25-75 (p < 0.01). During the second phase, similar results were observed, but the lung function decrements in the placebo group were smaller, suggesting that the supplementation may have had a residual protective effect on the lung. These results need to be confirmed in larger supplementation studies.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Antioxidants; beta Carotene; Cross-Over Studies; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure; Ozone; Respiration; Respiratory Function Tests; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Spirometry; Vitamin E

Although the health effects of beta carotene have been studied extensively, a systematic examination of serum concentrations and long-term mortality, including cardiovascular disease mortality, has not been reported.. Explore whether serum beta carotene is associated with overall and cause-specific mortality and to elucidate the strength and dose-response of the association.. We conducted a prospective serological analysis of 29 103 men in the ATBC study (Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention). During 31 years of follow-up, 23 796 deaths occurred, including deaths because of cardiovascular disease (9869), cancer (7692), respiratory disease (2161), diabetes mellitus (119), injuries and accidents (1255), and other causes (2700). Serum beta carotene was assayed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Adjusting for major risk factors measured, men with higher serum beta carotene had significantly lower all-cause mortality (hazard ratios=0.81, 0.71, 0.69, and 0.64 for quintile 2 (Q2)-Q5 versus Q1, respectively; P. This study provides evidence that higher beta carotene biochemical status is associated with lower overall, cardiovascular disease, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and other causes of mortality. The dose-response associations over a 30-year period were not attenuated by adjustment for other important risk factors and support greater fruit and vegetable consumption as a means to increase beta carotene status and promote longevity.

Topics: Aged; beta Carotene; Cardiovascular Diseases; Diabetes Mellitus; Finland; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mortality; Neoplasms; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Wounds and Injuries

The results of sterilized milk enriched with beta-carotene usage for nutrition of children under school age in Kursk town is presented. 140 weakened children at the age of 1.5-7 years old attending the children dispensary were tested within the period of 3 years. It was stated that under the influence of beta-carotene in the children allowance acute and chronic diseases including diseases of breathe organs, blood system and the level of respiratory diseases have been reduced. The wide usage of dairy products enriched with beta-carotene in medical-prophylactic nutrition of children under school age is recommended.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; beta Carotene; Child; Child, Preschool; Chronic Disease; Food, Fortified; Humans; Infant; Milk; Nutritional Status; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Russia; Sterilization

This study investigated whether a high dietary intake or serum concentration of antioxidant (pro-) vitamins could attenuate the acute respiratory effects of air pollution in panels of adults (n = 227) aged 50-70 yrs with chronic respiratory symptoms in two winters starting in 1993/1994. Subjects performed daily peak expiratory flow (PEF) measurements in the morning and evening and reported the occurrence of respiratory symptoms in two regions (urban and nonurban) each winter. Logistic regression analysis was used with the prevalences of large PEF decrements as dependent variables and air pollution levels as independent variables. Analyses were performed separately for subjects below and above the median levels of serum beta-carotene and the intake of dietary vitamin C and beta-carotene. Subjects with low levels of serum beta-carotene more often had large PEF decrements when particles <10 microm in diameter or black smoke levels which were higher compared to subjects with high levels of serum beta-carotene. The same results tended to be observed for dietary vitamin C or beta-carotene, but there were less significant air pollution effects in the low dietary antioxidant group. The results suggest that serum beta-carotene and to a lesser extent dietary vitamin C and beta-carotene may attenuate peak expiratory flow decrements due to air pollution in subjects with chronic respiratory symptoms.

Topics: Aged; Air Pollution; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; beta Carotene; Chronic Disease; Diet; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Netherlands; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Seasons; Smoke; Urban Health