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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #201818
Title: Alpha-tocopherol intake and plasma status of Hispanic and non-Hispanic white elders is associated with dietary intake pattern

Author
item GAO, XIANG - TUFTS/HNRCA
item Martin, Antonio
item LIN, HAI - BOSTON VA HLTHCARE SYST
item Bermudez, Odillia
item Tucker, Katherine

Submitted to: Journal of Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/30/2006
Publication Date: 10/1/2006
Citation: Gao, X., Martin, A., Lin, H., Bermudez, O.I., Tucker, K.L. 2006. Alpha-tocopherol intake and plasma status of Hispanic and non-Hispanic white elders is associated with dietary intake pattern. Journal of Nutrition. 136(10):2574-2579.

Interpretive Summary: Alpha-tocopherol from foods has been associated with protection against several chronic diseases and maintenance of immune function. However, most people do not meet current recommendations for intake. We examined alpha-tocopherol intake and plasma status in a representative sample of 447 Puerto Rican and Dominican older adults, along with 155 neighborhood-matched non-Hispanic whites. A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to assess dietary intake. Mean dietary intakes of alpha-tocopherol were 6 mg in both ethnicities. Only 4.7% of women and 7.9% of men met the estimated average requirement (12 mg/d) for vitamin E from food alone. Top sources of alpha-tocopherol for Hispanics included oils and milk, and for non-Hispanic whites, ready-to-eat breakfast cereal and sweet baked products. Mean plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations were 24.5 mmol/L for Hispanics and 25.8 mmol/L for non-Hispanic whites. Those who consumed a diet high in sweets had the lowest plasma alpha-tocopherol relative to those who consumed a diet high in fruit and breakfast cereals or high in milk products, although they had similar intakes. Large proportions of these elders (>90%) have inadequate intake of alpha-tocopherol, and plasma concentrations were associated with intake patterns.

Technical Abstract: Alpha-tocopherol from foods has been associated with protection against several chronic diseases and maintenance of immune function. However, most people do not meet current recommendations for intake. We examined alpha-tocopherol intake and plasma status in a representative sample of Puerto Rican and Dominican older adults (n=447), along with neighborhood-matched non-Hispanic whites (n=155). A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to assess dietary intake. Mean dietary intakes of alpha-tocopherol were 6 mg in both ethnicities. Only 4.7% of women and 7.9% of men met the estimated average requirement (12 mg/d) for vitamin E from food alone. Top sources of alpha-tocopherol for Hispanics included oils and milk, and for non-Hispanic whites, ready-to-eat breakfast cereal and sweet baked products. Mean plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations were 24.5 mmol/L for Hispanics and 25.8 mmol/L for non-Hispanic whites (P>0.05). Plasma alpha-tocopherol was positively associated with alpha-tocopherol intake (P = 0.003), and significance remained after adjusting covariates and after exclusion of supplement-users (P = 0.008 for trend). We identified five dietary patterns by cluster analysis: 1) fruit and breakfast cereal, 2) starchy vegetables, 3) rice, 4) milk and milk products, and 5) sweets. Those following the sweets pattern had the lowest plasma alpha-tocopherol relative to the fruit and breakfast cereal or milk patterns (P<0.05 for all), although they had similar intakes. Large proportions of these elders (>90%) have inadequate intake of alpha-tocopherol, and plasma concentrations were associated with intake patterns.