Association of serum carotenoids and tocopherols with atopic diseases in Japanese children and adolescents

Abstract

The present study assessed whether serum carotenoids and tocopherols are associated with atopic diseases (eczema and asthma) in 10- and 13-yr-olds in a Japanese community. Of 2796 students attending schools in Shunan, Japan, in 2006, 396 students were randomly selected for this study using nested case-control design. Atopic diseases and dietary food intake were assessed using self-administered questionnaires, and serum antioxidants were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. We found no associations between serum carotenoids and atopic diseases. However, odds ratios (OR)s for the third and fourth quartiles of serum alpha-tocopherol with atopic eczema were 0.33 (95% confidence interval: 0.15-0.73) and 0.36 (0.14-0.89), respectively, and the trend was negatively significant (P(trend) = 0.048). We did not find a significant association for asthma. In conclusion, serum alpha-tocopherol was negatively associated with the prevalence of eczema. Serum carotenoids did not show definitive protective effects in Japanese youth.

Association of antioxidants and vitamin D level with inflammation in children with atopic dermatitis

“…found that allergic sensitization was negatively associated with plasma γ ‐tocopherol concentration, but only in patients over 50 years old, not in children . Other studies revealed significant negative association between α ‐tocopherol and atopic eczema in children . Our results stay in line with the PASTURE study reporting no association between vitamin E concentration and AD .…”

“…Some reports have demonstrated clinical improvements in AD after vitamin D supplementation, especially when combined with a well‐known antioxidant – vitamin E . The published data concerning the relation of vitamin E with inflammatory process of allergic diseases are inconsistent . Kompauer et al .…”

Serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and dietary intake of Korean infants and young children with atopic dermatitis

“…Some studies have reported similar outcomes in terms of the relation between serum vitamin E and IgEs, yet they used different endpoints. They reported that plasma vitamin E was significantly negatively associated with SCORAD, an indicator of AD's severity and the prevalence of eczema in Japanese children aged 10-13 yr old [28,35]. In adults with higher serum vitamin E level, less allergic skin sensitization was observed [36].…”

Serum carotenoid and tocopherol concentrations and risk of asthma in childhood: a nested case–control study

“…Whilst maternal dietary transfer during pregnancy to the fetus takes place via the placenta, dietary transfers during infancy and childhood are through the breastmilk and the child's gut, respectively. The associations between vitamin A and E exposures during early life and the risk of childhood asthma have been evaluated only by a few studies and results are inconsistent [18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. The associations between vitamin A and E exposures during early life and the risk of childhood asthma have been evaluated only by a few studies and results are inconsistent [18][19][20][21][22][23][24].…”

“…Given these different routes of dietary transfer, the immunological effects of fetal dietary exposures may differ from dietary exposures during early life [17]. The associations between vitamin A and E exposures during early life and the risk of childhood asthma have been evaluated only by a few studies and results are inconsistent [18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. Most existing studies are however either retrospective case-control [18À20] or cross-sectional [21][22][23][24] in design.…”