Vitamin E , γ‐tocopherol, diminishes ex vivo basophil response to dust mite allergen

Epidemiologic studies suggest that dietary vitamin E is a candidate intervention for atopic disease. We used in vitro and ex vivo exposures to test the hypothesis that the most common dietary isoform of vitamin E , γ‐tocopherol (γ T ), could suppress Fcε RI ‐mediated basophil activation. Rat basophilic leukemia ( RBL )‐ SX 38 cells that express human F cε RI were treated with or without γT, followed by stimulation with α‐ I g E . In the ex vivo study, 20 D er f 1 ‐allergic volunteers consumed a γ T ‐enriched supplement for 7 days. Their basophils were challenged ex vivo with α‐ I g E and graded doses of D er f 1 before and after the supplementation period. γt treatment of RBL ‐ SX 38 cells significantly reduced basophil degranulation and de novo TH 2 cytokine production. Daily consumption of a γ T ‐rich supplement by dust mite‐allergic volunteers reduced basophil activation after ex vivo dust mite challenge. Vitamin E supplements rich in γ T may be useful adjuncts in decreasing atopic disease.