Plasma concentrations of carotenoids and tocopherols in male long-term tobacco chewers, smokers and nonusers

Plasma carotenoid and tocopherol concentrations of men, aged 25 to 55 years, who were long-term chewers, smokers, or tobacco nonusers were determined. Tobacco users had either chewed (n=11) or smoked (n=23) for >15 years. Nonusers (n=10) had never smoked >1 pack or chewed >34 g. Food energy, mono- and poly-unsaturated and saturated fats, cholesterol, vitamin A, vitamin E, and carotenoid intakes of the three groups were not significantly different. Chewers adn smokers reported consuming significantly less cryptoxanthin, found primarily in some fruits, and had significantly lower plasma cryptoxanthin levels than nonusers. Nonusers had significantly higher concentrations of plasma gamma-tocopherol than smokers; whereas those of chewers were intermediate. Nonusers had significantly higher concentrations of plasma gamma-tocopherol and total tocopherols than chewers or smokers. Plasma delta-tocopherol concentrations of the groups were not significantly different. Nonusers had smokers but not chewers. Plasma lutein and lycopene concentrations of all groups were not significantly different. Dietary intakes of total carotenoids and tocopherols of the three groups were not significantly different, yet nonusers had higher plasma concentrations of total and most individual carotenoids and tocopherols than smokers with values of chewers being intermediate.