Vitamin E status and its dietarydeterminants in Taiwanese

Summary.Background: A large proportion of Taiwanese are considered to haveinadequate vitamin E intake according to Taiwanese RDA. Aim of thestudy: To evaluate the vitamin E status in Taiwan usingbiochemical indicators, and to examine the influences of dietaryfactors.Methods: The Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan 1993–1996 wasconducted using a multi-stage sampling scheme. Data of 3614subjects (1728 males, and 1886 females) aged 4 years and abovewere included in the current analysis.Results: Females had higher levels of serum -tocopherol thanmales. Serum level of -tocopherol significantly increased withage and blood lipids (p <0.001). The prevalence rate of deficiency, assessed by the ratioof serum -tocopherol to cholesterol+triglyceride(TG) <1.59 µmol/mmol, was 1.4 % for Taiwanese aged 4 and above. Theprevalence was 1.02 % for adults. This biochemical profile wassuperior in women compared to men. The age-serum vitamin Estatus was U-shaped, being poorest in teenagers. Geographicalvariation in vitamin E/cholesterol+TG ratio was not apparentacross regions. An association was observed between serumvitamin E status and frequency of vitamin E supplements, freshfruits, and 100 % fruit juices. An association was also seenwith dietary intakes of vitamin C and vitamin E assessed by24-hour recall.Conclusion: The prevalence rate of vitamin E deficiency in Taiwan waslow. An association was observed between serum vitamin E statusand dietary vitamins E and C intakes either from foods orsupplements.* Kang M.-J. and Lin Y.-C. contributed equally tothe paper and are co-first authors