Combination Treatment with High-Dose Vitamin C and Alpha-Tocopherol does not Enhance Respiratory-Tract Lining Fluid Vitamin C Levels in Asthmatics

Abstract

Oxidative stress plays a significant role in allergic airway inflammation. Supplementation with alpha-tocopherol (alone or combined with ascorbate/vitamin C) has been assessed as an intervention for allergic airway diseases with conflicting results. Enhancing levels of airway antioxidants with oral supplements has been suggested as an intervention to protect individuals from the effect of inhaled oxidants, although it is unclear whether supplementation changes tocopherol or vitamin C levels in both serum and airway fluids. Our objective was to obtain pilot safety and dosing data from 14 allergic asthmatic volunteers examining the effect of daily combination oral therapy with 500 mg alpha-tocopherol (α T) and 2 g vitamin C for 12 wk. We examined serum and airway fluid and cellular levels of alpha- and gamma-tocopherol (γ T) and vitamin C to plan for future studies of these agents in asthma and allergic rhinitis. Six volunteers completed 12 wk of active treatment with α T and vitamin C and 8 completed placebo. Blood and sputum samples were obtained at baseline and at 6 wk and 12 wk of therapy and were analyzed for α T, γ T, and vitamin C levels in the serum, sputum supernatant, and sputum cells. Combination treatment increased serum vitamin C and significantly decreased sputum α T and serum γ T levels. No changes were found in sputum supernatant or sputum cell vitamin C or serum α T levels in the active treatment group. In conclusion, supplementation with α T and high-dose vitamin C does not augment vitamin C levels in the respiratory-tract lining fluid.