Clinical Interventions in Aging, 10/13/2016
Hemila H – For this study, researchers analyze how the impact of vitamin E on pneumonia risk depends on age. In spite of the fact that the proof of benefit from vitamin E against pneumonia in elderly males is strong in this investigation, the overall findings of vitamin E have been complex. Further, examine on vitamin E in nonsmoking elderly males is justified.
Methods
- Between 1985–1993 in Finland, Secondary investigation of the Alpha–Tocopherol, Beta–Carotene Cancer Prevention study was performed.
- A sum of 7,469 male smokers aged 50–69 years at the standard who began to smoke at ≥ 21 years were enrolled in this study.
- For 5–8 years Intervention was 50 mg/d of vitamin E.
- The result was the incidence of hospital–treated, community–acquired pneumonia by the age at the follow–up.
Results
- Among 2,216 participants who smoked 5–19 cigarettess for every day at baseline and exercised at leisure time, vitamin E supplementation diminished the incidence of pneumonia by 69% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 43%–83%; 57 pneumonia cases).
- In this subgroup, vitamin E prevented pneumonia in 12.9% of participants by the age of 74 years.
- Among 5,253 participants who smoked ≥ 20 cigarettes every day at baseline or did not exercise, the incidence of pneumonia was 14% lower in the vitamin E participants (95% CI: –38% to +21%; 139 cases).
- 33% of the members quit smoking for a period, of whom 27 got pneumonia.
- The incidence of pneumonia was 72% (95% CI: 31%–89%) lower in the vitamin E group, and this benefit was also observed among those males who smoked ≥ 20 cigarettes every day at baseline or did not exercise.