Regular use of vitamin E may cut COPD risk

Washington, May 17 (ANI): A new study conducted by researchers at Cornell University and Brigham and Women's Hospital has suggested that long-term, regular use of vitamin E in women 45 years of age and older may help decrease the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by about 10 percent in both smokers and non-smokers.

"As lung disease develops, damage occurs to sensitive tissues through several proposed processes, including inflammation and damage from free radicals. Vitamin E may protect the lung against such damage," said Anne Hermetet Agler, doctoral candidate with Cornell University's Division of Nutritional Sciences.

Agler and colleagues reviewed data compiled by the Women's Health Study, a multi-year, long-term effort ending in 2004 that focused on the effects of aspirin and vitamin E in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer in nearly 40,000 women aged 45 years and older.

Study participants were randomized to receive either 600 mg of vitamin E or a placebo every other day during the course of the research.

Although fewer women taking vitamin E developed COPD, Agler noted the supplements appeared to have no effect on asthma, and women taking vitamin E supplements were diagnosed with asthma at about the same rate as women taking placebo pills.

Importantly, Agler noted the decreased risk of COPD in women who were given vitamin E was the same for smokers as for non-smokers.

Agler said further research will explore the way vitamin E affects the lung tissue and function, and will assess the effects of vitamin E supplements on lung diseases in men.

"If results of this study are borne out by further research, clinicians may recommend that women take vitamin E supplements to prevent COPD," Agler said.

"Remember that vitamin E supplements are known to have detrimental effects in some people; for example vitamin E supplementation increased risk of congestive heart failure in cardiovascular disease patients. Broader recommendations would need to balance both benefits and risks," Agler added. (ANI)

The results of the study will be presented at the ATS 2010 International Conference in New Orleans. (ANI)