Hong JY, et al. - Among participants from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, researchers analyzed the correlations between lung function and the consumption of antioxidant vitamins with regard to the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Individuals in the highest intake quintile (Q5) of vitamin A, carotene and vitamin C intake had mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) measurements that were 30 mL, 32 mL and 36 mL higher than those of individuals in the lowest intake quintile (Q1), respectively. It was observed that the risks of COPD for male smokers in Q1 increased 7.60-fold, 7.16-fold and 7.79-fold for vitamin A, carotene and vitamin C, respectively, compared with those of female non-smokers in Q5. Therefore, it was deduced that the influence of antioxidant vitamins on lung function was based on gender and smoking status in the Korean COPD population.