Vitamin E May Protect Lungs From Air Pollution, Study Suggests

New findings published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine show a potential connection between the amount of vitamin E in the body, exposure to air pollution and lung function.

Researchers at King's College London and the University of Nottingham discovered a link between vitamin E, concentrations in blood levels and exposure to fine particulate pollution in the general population. Furthermore, they found growing evidence from previous studies on how vitamins may play a role in helping to protect the lungs from air pollution.

For the study, researchers measured close to 300 metabolites or chemical signatures that circulated in the blood of over 5,500 fasting volunteers who had undergone a spirometry or lung test that helped determine the lung's forced vital capacity (FVC). Researchers measured the amount of air that could be exhaled with force following inhalation as deeply as possible, forcing expiratory volume (FEV), the measure of the amount of air that is exhaled with force in one breath.

Findings revealed 13 metabolites that were significantly associated with FVC, 10 of which were also identified for FEV. From the metabolites associated with lung function, eight were also associated with exposure to both PM2.5 and PM10. The eight metabolites held higher exposure to PM that was found to correlate with lower levels of the metabolite and a lower FEV.

However, the strongest PM2.5 and FEV was seen with vitamin E. Individuals with a higher exposure to PM2.5 had significantly lower levels of alpha-tocopherol and lower lung function, overall.

"Our work builds on a number studies exploring whether some vitamins can counteract the negative effect on lungs caused by air pollution," Dr. Ana Valdes, co-author of the study, concluded in a statement. "More work is needed to establish whether antioxidant supplements do indeed provide protection to the lungs in the general population."