Vitamin E and D regulation of allergic asthma immunopathogenesis

• Vitamin E tocopherol isoforms have opposing regulatory functions on cell signaling.
• γ-tocopherol associates with lower lung function and increased allergic inflammation.
• α-tocopherol associates with better lung function and reduced allergic inflammation.
• Vitamin D function and epidemiology suggest a benefit in asthma and infections.
• Vitamin D trials didn’t reduce asthma and variably reduced respiratory infection.

Asthma occurs as complex interactions of the environmental and genetics. Clinical studies and animal models of asthma indicate dietary factors such as vitamin E and vitamin D as protective for asthma risk. In this review, we discuss opposing regulatory functions of tocopherol isoforms of vitamin E and regulatory functions of vitamin D in asthma and how the variation in global prevalence of asthma may be explained, at least in part, by these dietary components.