Elevated Plasma γ-Tocopherol and Decreased α-Tocopherol in Men Are Associated With Inflammatory Markers and Decreased Plasma 25-OH Vitamin D

• Published in: Nutrition and cancer Vol. 60; no. sup1; pp. 21 - 29
• Main Authors: Cooney, Robert V., Franke, Adrian A., Wilkens, Lynne R., Gill, Jasmeet, Kolonel, Laurence N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Taylor & Francis Group 01.01.2008; Taylor& Francis
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; alpha-Tocopherol - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers; C-Reactive Protein - analysis; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gamma-Tocopherol - blood; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Vitamin D - analogs & derivatives; Vitamin D - blood; Human; Association; Cancerology; Vitamin D; Tocopherols; α-Tocopherol; Inflammation; Marker; Antioxidant; Blood plasma
• ISSN: 0163-5581; 1532-7914; 1532-7914
• DOI: 10.1080/01635580802404162

Chronic inflammation is a risk factor for many diseases of aging. Endogenous oxidants are thought to mediate the effects of inflammation and γ-Tocopherol (γ-Toc) may mitigate damage from nitrogen-based oxidants; however, no physiological requirement for γ-Toc has been established. Regulation of tocopherols and their functional significance are poorly defined, thereby limiting their application in prevention. Using stored plasma samples from 657 male control subjects in a previous study of prostate cancer, we have analyzed associations of the tocopherols, inflammation markers, and 25-hydroxy (OH) vitamin D. Plasma α-Toc and γ-Toc were inversely correlated, whereas δ-Toc and α-Toc levels were positively correlated, suggesting a unique regulatory mechanism. γ-Toc levels were positively and α-Toc negatively associated with plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and urinary isoprostane F 2t , which are markers of inflammation and oxidation. Ethnic variability in tocopherols was observed; however, this may be explained by differences in plasma 25-OH vitamin D, as γ-Toc levels varied inversely and α-Toc positively with 25-OH vitamin D. In these data, all-cause mortality appeared to be positively associated with CRP and inversely with 25-OH vitamin D. We hypothesize that plasma levels of tocopherols may serve as markers of systemic inflammation, complicating epidemiologic assessment of their role in cancer etiology.