Plasma retinol, carotene and vitamin E concentrations and lung function in a crocidolite-exposed cohort from Wittenoom, Western Australia: a cohort study

Table 4 Relationships between plasma carotene concentrations and lung function levels and annual rate of change*

	Quartiles	FEV1	95%CI	FVC	95%CI
Level at entry into program (ml)	Q1	0		0
	Q2	21.4	-3.2,46.1	0.06	-31.4,31.6
	Q3	47.8	19.1,76.4	30.6	-5.8,67.0
	Q4	67.3	38.0,96.6	59.5	22.6,96.5
Annual change (ml/year)	Q1	0	0	0	0
	Q2	-1.1	-6.5,4.3	3.04	-3.8-9.9
	Q3	-6.0	-12.3,0.3	-6.6	-14.6-1.5
	Q4	-9.3	-16.0,-2.7	-8.3	-16.8-0.1

Adjusted for age, sex, height, asbestos exposure and smoking history.
Quartile 1: Carotene concentrations lower than 0.45 μmol/L; Quartile 2: concentrations more than 0.45 and less than 0.8 μmol/L; quartile 3: concentrations more than 0.8 and less than 1.3; and quartile 4: concentrations equal or greater than 1.3 μmol/L.

ISSN: 1475-2891