[Sex difference in effects of smoking on serum vitamin E concentrations in a young population]

Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) is a major endogenous, lipid-soluble antioxidant. Serum concentrations of both alpha-tocopherol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are decreased in smokers as well as in men. Effects of smoking on alpha-tocopherol and HDL-C may differ between men and women in a young population.

Serum levels of a -tocopherol and HDL-C were compared between smokers and nonsmokers among 126 apparently healthy subjects (< 50 years, mean age of 37 +/- 8 years).

Both alpha-tocopherol and HDL-C were significantly lower in men (n = 48) than in women (n = 78) (3.57 +/- 0.47 vs 4.18 +/- 0.65 mg/g lipids; 49.8 +/- 10.6 vs 61.3 +/- 13.4mg/dl). alpha-tocopherol was significantly lower in smokers (n = 29, 3.65 +/- 0.41 mg/g) than in nonsmokers (n = 97, 4.03 +/- 0.69 mg/g), whereas HDL-C was not significantly different between smokers (53.4 +/- 14.4 mg/dl) and nonsmokers (58.0 +/- 13.2 mg/dl). alpha-tocopherol was significantly lower in smokers (n = 10, 3.79 +/- 0.38 mg/g) than in nonsmokers (n = 68, 4.23 +/- 0.66mg/g) in women, but comparable between smokers (n = 19, 3.58 +/- 0.42 mg/g) and nonsmokers (n = 29, 3.56 +/- 0.50mg/g) in men. HDL-C was comparable between smokers and nonsmokers in both men(49.6 +/- 12.3 vs 49.9 +/- 9.6mg/dl) and women (60.7 +/- 15.8 vs 61.4 +/- 13.1 mg/dl). alpha-tocopherol was significantly positively correlated with HDL-C in both smokers (r = 0.67) and nonsmokers (r = 0.60) in men. alpha-tocopherol was significantly positively correlated with HDL-C in nonsmokers (r = 0.42) but not in smokers (r = 0.16) in women.

alpha-tocopherol was lower in smokers than in nonsmokers among younger women but not men. Higher HDL-C was preserved even in smokers among younger women. Positive correlation between alpha-tocopherol and HDL-C was preserved in male smokers but not in female smokers. These results suggest alpha-tocopherol exhaustion was exaggerated by smoking-induced oxidative stress in younger women.