Lower tocopherol serum levels in subjects with abdominal adiposity

Peroxidation of lipoproteins may be of critical importance in the development of atherosclerosis. Tocopherol is considered to be the most effective lipid-soluble antioxidant. The main aim of this study was to measure the serum tocopherol concentrations in a Swedish reference population and to relate them to family history, lifestyle and serum lipoprotein composition.

A health survey of risk factors for coronary heart disease was carried out among the employees of a Swedish company.

Ninety per cent (906) of the employees participated.

Mean alpha, beta and gamma tocopherol levels corrected for lipids were 1.57 (SD 0.24), 0.04 (SD 0.01) and 0.20 (SD 0.07) microgram ml-1, respectively. Alpha tocopherol levels were slightly higher in women than in men, but there was no difference between different ages. Smokers had a lower alpha tocopherol level than non-smokers (1.54 and 1.59 micrograms ml-1; P = 0.03) and persons with low physical activity had a lower level than those with high activity (1.53 and 1.62 micrograms ml-1, respectively; P = 0.0002). Alpha tocopherol concentration was inversely correlated to abdominal sagittal diameter (r = -0.24, P = 0.0001).

The average tocopherol concentrations in this Swedish population were higher than in countries with a high incidence of coronary heart disease but similar to those in countries with a similar, intermediate incidence. The inverse correlation to abdominal adiposity may partly explain why this adiposity is a risk factor for coronary heart disease.