Rubin et al. Relationship of serum antioxidants to asthma prevalence in youth. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2004;169:393-8

Abstract

Inconsistent findings have been reported in previous studies intended to determine whether antioxidants play a protective role in asthma. This study investigated a group of children analyzed in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. An inverse association between serum antioxidant levels and asthma was found, particularly when children were exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. In such tobacco-exposed children, increasing serum selenium levels were associated with the most prominent decrease in asthma risk (50%), whereas increased serum carotene and increased vitamin C levels were associated with a 40% reduction in asthma. This association was less impressive in children without tobacco smoke exposure. The authors concluded that the level of antioxidants in the body might be a factor in protection against damaging effects on lung tissue of oxidants present in the environment, particularly in tobacco smoke. However, it is not yet clear whether the serum antioxidant levels described were present before onset of the asthma. Inconsistent findings have been reported in previous studies intended to determine whether antioxidants play a protective role in asthma. This study investigated a group of children analyzed in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. An inverse association between serum antioxidant levels and asthma was found, particularly when children were exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. In such tobacco-exposed children, increasing serum selenium levels were associated with the most prominent decrease in asthma risk (50%), whereas increased serum carotene and increased vitamin C levels were associated with a 40% reduction in asthma. This association was less impressive in children without tobacco smoke exposure. The authors concluded that the level of antioxidants in the body might be a factor in protection against damaging effects on lung tissue of oxidants present in the environment, particularly in tobacco smoke. However, it is not yet clear whether the serum antioxidant levels described were present before onset of the asthma.