Leng S, et al. - This nutritional epidemiological study was carried out to identify dietary nutrients related to preservation of lung function in Hispanic and non-Hispanic whites (NHWs) smokers from New Mexico. Findings indicated that the protective nutrients for the preservation of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁) in ever smokers could lay the foundation for designing individualized nutritional intervention targeting “optimal physiological levels” in human to improve lung function in ever smokers. In addition, the difference in magnitude of protection of dietary intakes of eicosenoic fatty acid and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) between Hispanics and NHWs may explain the observed ethnic disparity in FEV₁ decline.

Methods

• Researchers performed a nutritional epidemiological study in the Lovelace Smokers cohort (LSC; n=1,829) and the Veterans Smokers cohort (n=508).
• They intended to identify dietary nutrients (n=139) associated with average FEV₁ and its decline and to assess whether nutrient intakes could explain ethnic disparity in FEV₁ decline between Hispanics and NHW smokers.

Results

• According to data, magnesium, folate, niacin, vitamins A and D, eicosenoic fatty acid (20:1n9), eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n3), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA; 22:5n3), docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n3), and fiber were the nutrients discovered and replicated to be significantly associated with better average FEV₁.
• Findings demonstrated that greater intakes of eicosenoic fatty acid and DPA were related to slower FEV₁ decline in the LSC.
• DPA was identified as the most potent nutrient related to better average FEV₁ and slower FEV₁ decline, among omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
• Researchers found that in LSC members with high DPA intake (>20 mg/day), adverse impact of continuous current smoking on FEV₁ decline was completely negated.
• In addition, they noted that in Hispanics vs NHWs, slower FEV₁ decline may be due to the greater protection of eicosenoic fatty acid and DPA for FEV₁ decline rather than greater intake of protective nutrients in this ethnic group.