Supplementation with vitamins C and E enhances cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in healthy adults

Abstract

The effect of supplementation with vitamins C and E on cytokine production of healthy adult volunteers was studied in a single-blind trial. Ten subjects in each group received daily vitamin C (1 g ascorbic acid), vitamin E (400 mg dl-α-tocopheryl acetate), or vitamins C and E for 28 d. Plasma concentrations of α-tocopherol, ascorbate, and lipid peroxides as well as the production of cytokines by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were measured before, during, and at the end of the supplementation and 1 wk later. PBMCs were cultured in the presence or absence of lipopolysaccharide for 24 h. The interleukin 1 (IL-1), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in the culture supernates were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods. Production of IL-1β and TNF- α in the group supplemented with vitamins C and E was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of the groups given vitamin E or vitamin C alone. The enhancing effect of supplementation with a combination of vitamins E and C coincided with peak plasma α-tocopherol and ascorbate concentrations and the lowest plasma lipid peroxide concentrations (P < 0.05) on day 14. In addition, an in vitro experiment with PBMCs showed that vitamins E and C reduced lipopolysaccharide-induced prostaglandin E2 production and enhanced TNF-α production. These results indicate that combined supplementation with vitamins C and E is more immunopotentiating than supplementation with either vitamin alone in healthy adults.