Associations between dietary/serum carotenoids and cardiovascular disease risk factors

Abstract

Although cohort studies have found inverse associations between dietary/serum carotenoids and incidence of CVD, little is known about the association between dietary/serum carotenoids and CVD risk factors. A cross‐sectional study was conducted to examine the associations of dietary/serum carotenoids with plasma lipids, homocysteine (Hcy), and C‐reactive protein (CRP). A total of 7,398 participants aged over 19 y free of CVD or cancer in the NHANES 2003–2006 were utilized. After adjusting for covariates, the odds ratios for CRP >; 2.4 mg/L (ref: CRP ≤ 2.4 mg/L) were 0.14 (95% CI: 0.04–0.47), 0.29 (CI: 0.17–0.77), 0.32 (CI: 0.12–0.85) and 0.39 (CI: 0.15–0.97) for participants in the highest quartile vs. the lowest of β‐cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein+zeaxanthin, and total carotenoid intakes, respectively. Serum carotenoids, except α‐carotene, were positively associated with plasma total cholesterol (p<0.05). Serum α‐carotene, cis β‐carotene, and lutein+zeaxanthin were positively associated with HDL (p<0.05) but not with LDL. The odds ratios for Hcy >; 12 μmol/L (ref: Hcy ≤ 12 μmol/L) were 0.29 (CI: 0.12–0.72), 0.36 (CI: 0.14–0.95), and 0.24 (CI: 0.11–0.56) for participants in the highest quartile vs. the lowest of serum α‐carotene, cis β‐carotene, and lycopene, respectively. Serum carotenoids were better predictors than dietary carotenoids in terms of their protective effects against CVD.Grant Funding Source: NA