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Association of carotenoids, tocopherols and vitamin C in plasma with allergic rhinitis and allergic sensitisation in adults

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

Iris Kompauer ,
Joachim Heinrich ,
Guenther Wolfram  and
Jakob Linseisen
Iris Kompauer
Affiliation:
GSF – National Research Center for Environment and Health, Institute of Epidemiology, PO Box 1129, D-85758, Neuherberg, Germany Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Institute of Medical Data Management, Biometrics and Epidemiology, Munich, Germany
Joachim Heinrich*
Affiliation:
GSF – National Research Center for Environment and Health, Institute of Epidemiology, PO Box 1129, D-85758, Neuherberg, Germany
Guenther Wolfram
Affiliation:
Department of Food and Nutrition, TU Munich, Munich, Germany
Jakob Linseisen
Affiliation:
Unit of Human Nutrition and Cancer Prevention, TU Munich, Munich, Germany Division of Clinical Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany
*
*Corresponding author: Email [email protected]
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Abstract

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Objectives

Antioxidant nutrients like carotenoids, tocopherols and vitamin C have been suggested to protect against allergic rhinitis and allergic sensitisation but scientific evidence is scarce. The aims of the study were to measure the plasma concentration of six carotenoids, α- and γ-tocopherol and vitamin C as biomarkers of the intake, absorption and subsequent metabolism of these nutrients, and to assess their association with allergic rhinitis and sensitisation.

Method

Data from a cross-sectional study on representative dietary and lifestyle habits of the population of Bavaria, Germany, were analysed. The plasma levels of six carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene, lycopene, lutein/zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin and cryptoxanthin) as well as of α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol and vitamin C were measured in 547 adults aged between 19 and 81 years. Participants with specific serum immunoglobulin E ≥700 U l−1 were categorised as sensitised. The association of plasma antioxidant levels, allergic rhinitis and allergic sensitisation was assessed by means of unconditional logistic regression models.

Results

We observed a negative association between plasma total carotenoids and the prevalence of allergic rhinitis, with odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 1.13 (0.54–2.39) for the second, 0.72 (0.33–1.58) for the third and 0.44 (0.19–1.03) for the fourth quartile of total carotenoids concentration (P for trend = 0.0332); results for lycopene failed to reach statistical significance (P = 0.0608). Other single carotenoids, tocopherols and vitamin C were unrelated to allergic rhinitis. Allergic sensitisation was negatively associated with plasma γ-tocopherol, with odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 0.92 (0.51–1.65) for the second, 1.00 (0.56–1.80) for the third and 0.45 (0.23–0.88) for the fourth quartile of plasma γ-tocopherol concentration (P for trend = 0.0410). No other antioxidant was significantly related to allergic sensitisation.

Conclusions

High plasma carotenoid concentrations reflecting a diet high in various fruits and vegetables might have a protective effect on allergic rhinitis in adulthood.

Keywords

AntioxidantsBiomarkersAllergic rhinitisAllergic sensitisation
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 9 , Issue 4 , June 2006 , pp. 472 - 479
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2006

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