U. S. researchers have said that women age 45 and older may help decrease their risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease if they take vitamin E long-term.

Anne Hermetet Agler, a doctoral candidate with Cornell University, says in a statement, "As lung disease develops, damage occurs to sensitive tissues through several proposed processes, including inflammation and damage from free radicals. Vitamin E may protect the lung against such damage."

According to reports, Agler and colleagues at Brigham and Women's Hospital reviewed data in Women's Health Study, which focused on the effects of aspirin and vitamin E in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer in nearly 40,000 women age 45 and older. Study participants received either 600 mg of vitamin E or a placebo every other day during the course of the study.

It was also found by the study that fewer women taking vitamin E developed COPD, but the vitamin E supplements appeared to have no effect on asthma.

Agler further says, "If results of this study are borne out by further research, clinicians may recommend that women take vitamin E supplements to prevent COPD. Vitamin E supplements are known to have detrimental effects in some people; for example vitamin E supplementation increased risk of congestive heart failure in cardiovascular disease patients. Broader recommendations would need to balance both benefits and risks." (With Inputs from Agencies)