Lower tocopherol serum levels in subjects with abdominal adiposity

OBJECTIVES: Peroxidation of lipoproteins may be of critical importance in the development of atherosclerosis. Tocopherol is considered to be the most effective lipid-soluble antioxidant. The main aim of this study was to measure the serum tocopherol concentrations in a Swedish reference population and to relate them to family history, lifestyle and serum lipoprotein composition. DESIGN: A health survey of risk factors for coronary heart disease was carried out among the employees of a Swedish company. SUBJECTS: Ninety per cent (906) of the employees participated. RESULTS: Mean alpha, beta and gamma tocopherol levels corrected for lipids were 1.57 (SD 0.24), 0.04 (SD 0.01) and 0.20 (SD 0.07) microgram ml-1, respectively. Alpha tocopherol levels were slightly higher in women than in men, but there was no difference between different ages. Smokers had a lower alpha tocopherol level than non-smokers (1.54 and 1.59 micrograms ml-1; P = 0.03) and persons with low physical activity had a lower level than those with high activity (1.53 and 1.62 micrograms ml-1, respectively; P = 0.0002). Alpha tocopherol concentration was inversely correlated to abdominal sagittal diameter (r = -0.24, P = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The average tocopherol concentrations in this Swedish population were higher than in countries with a high incidence of coronary heart disease but similar to those in countries with a similar, intermediate incidence. The inverse correlation to abdominal adiposity may partly explain why this adiposity is a risk factor for coronary heart disease.