Objective: To describe fasting plasma total- and lipid standardised-vitamin E and ascorbate concentrations in Hong Kong Chinese subjects, and to explore age-, diet- and sex-related differences. Design: Observational study. Setting: Hong Kong. Subjects: One hundred and fifty randomly selected Chinese subjects. Interventions: Fasting plasma concentrations of ascorbate, total vitamin E and lipid standardised vitamin E (Vit ELS, expressed as  mol vitamin E/mmol total cholesterol plus triglycerides) were measured. Results: Total vitamin E concentrations ranged from 6-53 mol/l (mean 24; s.d. 8.5), and Vit ELS from 0.85-7.09 mol/mmol (mean 3.61; s.d. 1.19). Plasma Vit ELS concentrations in women were higher (P=0.02) than in men: mean (median) concentrations 3.82 (3.88) and 3.37 (3.28) mol/mmol, respectively. Vit ELS concentrations in men decreased with age. Mean (s.d.) plasma ascorbate concentrations in men and women were 49.7 (14.0) and 51.6 (21.6) mol/l respectively, and did not show the significant age- and sex- differences reportedly found in Western studies. Conclusions: The hypothesis that Hong Kong Chinese, with their low risk of CHD, might have high Vit ELS levels in fasting plasma is not supported by the results obtained. Moreover, results showed male-female differences and, in men, a previously unreported age-related decrease in plasma Vit ELS concentration which cannot be accounted for by concomitant differences in dietary intake of vitamin E alone. Results also suggest that the age- and sex- differences in plasma ascorbate seen in Western populations can be avoided by increased vitamin C intake. Sonsorship: This work was financially supported by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the UK/HK Joint Research Scheme. | 
