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 d etermined. 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, cholestero l, vitamin A, vitamin E, and carotenoid intakes of the three groups we re 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. No nusers had significantly higher concentrations of plasma gamma-tocophe rol than smokers; whereas those of chewers were intermediate. Nonusers had significantly higher concentrations of plasma gamma-tocopherol an d total tocopherols than chewers or smokers. Plasma delta-tocopherol c oncentrations of the groups were not significantly different. Nonusers had smokers but not chewers. Plasma lutein and lycopene concentration s of all groups were not significantly different. Dietary intakes of t otal carotenoids and tocopherols of the three groups were not signific antly different, yet nonusers had higher plasma concentrations of tota l and most individual carotenoids and tocopherols than smokers with va lues of chewers being intermediate.