Vitamin C and Vitamin E Enhance Respiratory Health

According to a recently published study, vitamin C and vitamin E support respiratory health. Vitamins C and E are antioxidants with immune-stimulating activity.

The subjects included 1,509 men and women between 20 and 60 years of age. The subjects completed a food-frequency questionnaire to evaluate dietary vitamin intake and supplement use. At the beginning of the study and 5 times during the 4 month follow-up period, the subjects completed a questionnaire regarding the occurrence of respiratory concerns.

The results of the study indicate that among women, the subjects with the greatest intake of vitamin C from food showed enhanced reported respiratory health by 31 percent compared to the women with lowest vitamin C intake. In the male subjects, respiratory health was better supported by 31 percent with supplemental vitamin C intake and by 44 percent with supplemental vitamin E intake.

The researchers concluded that among women, dietary vitamin C supports respiratory health. In men, supplemental vitamin C and vitamin E supports respiratory health, which is consistent with the data that men ingest less dietary vitamin C than women.

Reference:

Fondell E, Balter O, Rothman KJ, Balter K. Dietary intake and supplement use of vitamins C and E and upper respiratory tract infection. J Am Coll Nutr. 2011 Aug;30(4):248-58.