Dietary determinants of vitamin E status among a free‐living adult population

Abstract

ObjectiveThe 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans identified vitamin E as one of six shortfall nutrients for adults, with a low probability of adequacy. We determined whether almonds in the diet contribute to plasma concentrations of alpha‐ and gamma‐tocopherol.MethodsEight‐one healthy subjects aged 25‐70 years were recruited for this 1‐year study. During the first 6 months subjects followed their habitual diets; in the second 6 months subjects added almonds equivalent to 15% of their total habitual energy intake. Intake was assessed using 14 random 24‐hour telephone recalls and plasma tocopherols by HPLC. Analysis of paired t‐tests and multivariate analysis were performed using Stata 8.0.ResultsPlasma alpha‐ and gamma‐tocopherol levels were significantly different between the habitual and almond‐supplemented diets (p<0.001 and p<0.05, respectively). In multivariate analysis including all food groups, vitamin E supplement use was the only significant predictor of alpha‐tocopherol during both study phases (p<0.001). When analyzed with age, sex, and adjusting for total energy intake, almond intake significantly predicted plasma alpha‐tocopherol during the habitual diet (p<0.05) but not during the almond‐supplemented diet (p=0.68).ConclusionConsuming vitamin E supplements is the only significant predictor of alpha‐tocopherol status in a free‐living adult population.