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Early Life Food Desert Status Is Associated With Alpha and Gamma-Tocopherol Levels and Infant Lung Function
Garen S Wolff1, Angar Tsoggerel2, Aki Hoji2
1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Sleep Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
Pediatric Pulmonology
|January 29, 2026
Summary
Living in a food desert is linked to lower infant lung function and less ideal Vitamin E (α- and γ-tocopherol) levels. Not living in a food desert correlates with better lung development and optimal tocopherol balance in infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric environmental health
- Nutritional biochemistry
- Pulmonary medicine
Background:
- Food deserts are linked to increased childhood asthma prevalence.
- Limited data exists on the impact of early-life food desert exposure on Vitamin E subsets and infant lung development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if residing in a food desert at 3 months of age is associated with altered serum alpha-tocopherol (α-tocopherol) and gamma-tocopherol (γ-tocopherol) levels.
- To investigate the association between food desert status and infant lung measurements at 3 months.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 50 infants from the Indiana High-risk for Atopy in Neonates Cohort through Early life (INHANCE).
- Analysis of serum tocopherol concentrations (α- and γ-tocopherol), food desert status, and sedated lung function tests (FVC, FEV0.5, FRC) at 3 months of age.
- Statistical analysis included Fisher's Exact tests and ANOVA models to assess associations between food desert status, tocopherol levels, and lung function parameters.
Main Results:
- Infants living in food deserts exhibited lower lung volumes (FVC, FEV0.5) at 3 months.
- None of the infants with the optimal tocopherol combination (high α-tocopherol, low γ-tocopherol) resided in a food desert.
- Infants with the optimal tocopherol combination demonstrated significantly higher FRC and FEV0.5 z-scores.
Conclusions:
- Not living in a food desert at 3 months is associated with higher α-tocopherol and lower γ-tocopherol levels.
- Higher lung function in infants is linked to the optimal tocopherol combination and not living in a food desert.
- Further prospective studies are warranted to confirm the link between early-life nutrition, tocopherol levels, and persistent lower airway measurements.
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