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Antioxidants may decrease risk for COPD among men

Men who take antioxidants — particularly vitamins C and E — demonstrated a reduced risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to study results.

“In addition, the antioxidant effects of vitamins C and E on the risk [for] COPD might be stronger in men who smoke than in noncurrent smokers,” Pankaj Joshi, BPH, MS, PhD, of the department of preventive medicine at Kangwon National University School of Medicine in South Korea, and colleagues wrote.

Joshi and colleagues evaluated 10,038 patients from the community-based Korean Genome Epidemiology Study (KoGES) cohort. From this group, they identified 325 patients with COPD and 6,781 patients who were at risk.

The researchers used spirometry to measure forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) and forced vital capacity (FVC) as a basis for COPD diagnosis.

Researchers identified several factors associated with COPD development. These factors included older age, low education, lower body mass index, lower household income and cigarette smoking.

Results showed greater dietary vitamin C intake (OR for quintile 1 vs. quintile 5 = 0.66; P = .03) and dietary vitamin E intake (OR for quintile 1 vs. quintile 5 = 0.56; P = .05) was associated with reduced risk for COPD. The trend was particularly apparent among men (P = .01 for vitamin C; P = .05 for vitamin E).

Joshi and colleagues also reported significantly improved lung function with higher intake of vitamin C (FEV₁, P = .04; FVC, P = .03) and vitamin E (FEV₁, P = .03; FVC, P = .04).

Researchers reported no significant interactions between smoking status and intake of vitamin C or vitamin E on COPD risk among men. – by Jeff Craven

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.