Dietary and supplemental antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrient intakes and pulmonary function

A limited but growing body of evidence supports a significant role of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory micronutrients in pulmonary health. We investigated the associations of dietary and supplemental intakes of vitamins A, C, E and D, Se and n-3 PUFA with pulmonary function in a population-based study.

Population-based, cross-sectional study and data analysis of fruits and vegetables, dairy products and fish, vitamins A, C, E and D, Se and n-3 PUFA supplemental intakes, pulmonary risk factors and spirometry.

Chinese older adults (n 2478) aged 55 years and above in the Singapore Longitudinal Ageing Studies.

In multiple regression models that controlled simultaneously for gender, age, height, smoking, occupational exposure and history of asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, BMI, physical activity, and in the presence of other nutrient variables, daily supplementary vitamins A/C/E (b = 0·044, SE = 0·022, P = 0·04), dietary fish intake at least thrice weekly (b = 0·058, SE = 0·016, P < 0·0001) and daily supplementary n-3 PUFA (b = 0·068, SE = 0·032, P = 0·034) were individually associated with forced expiratory volume in the first second. Supplemental n-3 PUFA was also positively associated with forced vital capacity (b = 0·091, SE = 0·045, P = 0·045). No significant association with daily dairy product intake, vitamin D or Se supplements was observed.

The findings support the roles of antioxidant vitamins and n-3 PUFA in the pulmonary health of older persons.