Serum Carotenoids Research Articles

Serum carotenoid interactions in premenopausal women reveal α-carotene is negatively impacted by body fat.

Increasing body mass indices (BMIs) across the globe reflect pandemic shifts towards habitual positive energy imbalances. Excess body fat in individuals is often associated with high-energy and high-fat diets scanty in fresh produce. Carotenoids are fat-soluble pigments plentiful in many fruits and vegetables. They are well-known for provitamin A and antioxidant functions, but little research has been done related to carotenoid-body mass interactions. Serum carotenoids were analyzed relative to body fat to determine correlations between major serum carotenoids, retinol, BMI, fat mass, and lean mass. Healthy women ( n = 76), 19-50 years old, were categorized into two comparison groups determined by percent body fat measured by air displacement plethysomography (BOD POD®), i.e. <31% and ≥31% fat mass. Anthropometric and three-day diet records were completed for BMI and nutrient intake calculations, respectively. Serum α-carotene concentrations were strongly inversely associated with all measures of body composition ( P < 0.001 α-carotene) controlling for dietary intake and age, while β-carotene, lutein, and lycopene were not ( P > 0.05). Dietary intake between groups did not differ, including carrot consumption (a high dietary source of α-carotene). These results confirm previous carotenoid-health research and propose the need for further investigation of potential protective roles that α-carotene may perform for optimal health. Serum α-carotene may provide a deeper and clinically relevant purpose, beyond previous suggestions for its use as a biomarker for fruit and vegetable consumption, in that α-carotene may be a biomarker for chronic disease risk frequently linked with obesity. Impact statement Carotenoids are important pigments in fruit and vegetables and found in human serum. This study isolated a negative relationship between serum α-carotene and body fatness. As humans begin to live over a century, determining biomarkers of ultimate health is important. α-Carotene does not have the same distribution in the food supply as β-carotene and therefore is often overlooked in surveys. In part, this is due to the fact that β-carotene provides two molecules of vitamin A, while α-carotene provides one upon central cleavage. This study shows a very clear association between α-carotene and body fatness, which appears to go beyond its fat-soluble nature. Dietary intake data were not able to explain the association. Further work is needed to determine what dietary components infer health benefits.

Serum Folate, Vitamin B-12, Vitamin A, γ-Tocopherol, α-Tocopherol, and Carotenoids Do Not Modify Associations between Cadmium Exposure and Leukocyte Telomere Length in the General US Adult Population

BackgroundLeukocyte telomere length (LTL) is a biomarker of the aging process and is associated with the risk of chronic disease. Higher exposure to cadmium may be associated with shorter LTL, and adequate nutrient concentrations may be associated with longer LTL; however, the potential interaction between metals and nutrients on LTL has yet to be examined. ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate whether serum concentrations of vitamins and carotenoids were associated with LTL, and whether they modified the association between blood cadmium and LTL in the US NHANES (1999–2002). MethodsWe evaluated cross-sectional associations between LTL and serum concentrations of vitamin A, γ-tocopherol, α-tocopherol, folate, and vitamin B-12 (1999–2002; n = 7458) and α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein + zeaxanthin, and lycopene (2001–2002; n = 4018) in a nationally representative sample of US adults (≥20 y of age) with the use of multivariable linear regression. We further investigated whether vitamin and carotenoid concentrations modified associations between blood cadmium and LTL with models stratified by serum nutrient concentrations and the inclusion of an interaction term. ResultsBlood cadmium was inversely associated with LTL (percentage of LTL difference per 1 μg/L = −3.74; 95% CI: −5.35, −2.10). Serum vitamin A was positively associated (percentage of LTL difference per 1 μg/L = 4.01; 95% CI: 0.26, 7.90) and γ-tocopherol was inversely associated (percentage of LTL difference per 1 μg/dL = −2.49; 95% CI: −4.21, −0.73) with LTL. Serum folate (P-trend = 0.06) and α-tocopherol (P-trend = 0.10) were marginally positively associated with LTL, whereas vitamin B-12 (P-trend = 0.78) was not associated with LTL. Serum carotenoids were generally positively associated with LTL. Serum vitamin and carotenoid concentrations did not modify blood cadmium and LTL associations (P-interaction > 0.10). ConclusionResults from this cross-sectional study suggest that exposure to cadmium and certain nutrients may be associated with LTL in US adults, but the serum concentrations of the vitamins and carotenoids evaluated did not modify cross-sectional associations between cadmium exposure and LTL.

Predictors of Carotenoid Concentrations in Human Serum: Role of the Intestinal Microbiome

Carotenoids from fruits and vegetables are suggested to reduce the risks of several cancers. Inter‐individual variability in serum carotenoid concentrations is large, and is only modestly explained by dietary intakes. There is evidence that the colonic microbiota can maximize the bio‐accessibility of carotenoids by digestion of plant cell walls. Here we evaluated if differences in the relative abundance of bacterial taxa in the colon could contribute to the inter‐individual variability in serum concentrations of carotenoids. We utilized data and samples from a dietary intervention study that enrolled healthy individuals at increased risk of colon cancer. Colon mucosal biopsies were obtained without prior preparation of the bowels, and 93% of the biopsies were successfully amplified for the V4 region of the 16s rRNA gene. The relative abundance of bacterial phyla in the colonic mucosa of 89 individuals was: 6.7% Proteobacteria, 60% Firmicutes, 27% Bacteroidetes, 1.9% Actinobacteria and 2.8%Verrucomicrobia. At baseline, higher serum concentrations and higher dietary intakes of carotenoids were both associated with a lower abundance of Firmicutes taxa, unlike the direct association of higher body mass index (BMI) with increased abundance of Firmicutes. Higher serum carotenoids also were positively associated with measures of bacterial diversity in contrast to the negative association of diversity with BMI. Surprisingly, there was little change in bacterial taxa post‐intervention with either a Mediterranean diet or a Healthy Eating diet. Subsequent analyses evaluated the contributions of the microbiome, diet and demographic factors to the inter‐individual variation in serum carotenoid concentrations at baseline. Correlations of individual serum carotenoids with bacterial Operational Taxonomic Units indicated that oxygenated carotenoids, namely xanthophylls, segregated from other carotenoids. In linear regression models with serum xanthophyll concentrations as the outcome, bacterial taxa accounted for an additional 11% of the variance after controlling for BMI, smoking, and dietary xanthophyll intakes, and all these factors together accounted for 35% of the inter‐individual variability in serum xanthophylls. For serum beta‐carotene, bacterial taxa contributed an additional 4% of the variance after controlling for BMI, smoking, and dietary intakes. Regression models for alpha‐carotene and lycopene were not improved by including bacterial abundance. These results are consistent with a significant role for colonic microbiota in accessibility of specific carotenoids from fruits and vegetables in humans, and especially for xanthophylls which are high in fruits and green, leafy vegetables.Support or Funding InformationWe acknowledge support from NIH grants RO1 CA120381, T32 CA009676, P30 CA046592, P60 DK20572, P30 DK089503, UL1RR024986, and the Rose and Lawrence C. Page, Sr. Family Charitable Foundation.

Application of a High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography Method for the Evaluation of Non‐Provitamin A Carotenoids

Biofortification of maize with provitamin A carotenoids is an emerging intervention for providing vitamin A to people where maize is a staple crop. Analyzing the effectiveness of biofortified maize adoption will be important in the coming years. We propose that serum carotenoid profiles will be ideal for this endeavor. The C30 HPLC column was developed specifically for carotenoid separations because the longer alkyl chains provide better separation of carotenoids and their respected isomers. Most types of maize that have been released also have enhanced concentrations of the xanthophyll carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin. Due to the chemical similarity of lutein and zeaxanthin, the C30 column is ideal for analysis because it is capable of maintaining separation of these two non‐provitamin A carotenoids. A potential drawback of the C30 column is longer analytical time specifically for lycopene. When monitoring study subject low carotenoid diets during a human maize feeding trial, we propose that lycopene can be used as a qualitative measure of compliance due to the abundance of the carotenoid in the typical western diet and the absence of lycopene in maize. Here we show the adaptation of an established HPLC method (Howe &amp; Tanumihardjo, 2006) to include the quantification of lycopene and its respective isomers with a run time of 52 minutes, including equilibration, while maintaining the separation of lutein and zeaxanthin. Thus, serum carotenoids analysis could be useful for both measuring the adoption of maize and compliance in controlled feeding studies.Support or Funding InformationSupported by USDA Hatch WIS01804, Global Health Funds at UW‐Madison, and Harvest Plus breeding contract 5204.

The Ratio of HDL to LDL in Serum Is Related to Macular Pigment Density and Cognitive Function in Older Adults: Potential Insights into Lutein Transport to Neural Tissue

The dietary carotenoid, lutein, is selectively taken up into neural tissue. Neural lutein is related to better cognition. However, serum lutein concentrations may not accurately reflect neural levels. Lutein is mainly transported on high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) followed by low‐density lipoprotein (LDL). HDL may play a significant role in delivery of lipophilic nutrients to neural tissue. Therefore, lutein content on HDL may better reflect neural levels. However, this has yet to be investigated in humans. The relative amounts of HDL and LDL (HDL/LDL) is an indicator of the distribution of lutein in the circulation. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between changes in lipoprotein profiles, neural lutein concentration (measured by macular pigment density, MPD), and cognitive performance in older adults (n=31) using a previously conducted study in which participants were followed for 6 months. Serum collection, MPD (using heterochromatic flicker photometry), and cognitive testing (computerized cognitive assessment battery, CANTAB) were performed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Serum lipoproteins and carotenoids were determined using an enzymatic colorimetric method and HPLC, respectively. There was a group of individuals who had MPD increases &gt;0.10 optical density (OD) over the study period (n=17). These subjects were classified as “MPD responders”. In these subjects, adjusting for age, change in HDL/LDL was positively associated with change in MPD (r=0.66, p=0.006) and the strength of this association was greater in a subset of MPD responders who also had increases in serum lutein (n=10, r=0.77, p=0.01). The association between change in HDL/LDL and MPD was not significant in MPD responders without increases in serum lutein. In all MPD responders, change in both HDL/LDL and MPD were positively associated with change in spatial working memory and increased spatial planning, while change in serum lutein was positively related to spatial planning only (adjusted for age and education, P&lt;0.05). Associations between HDL/LDL and cognition were stronger in the subset of MPD responders who also had increases in serum lutein (P&lt;0.05). In MPD non‐responders (ΔMPD ≤0.05 OD), HDL/LDL was not related to MPD, but was associated with spatial planning. Collectively, these findings lend support to the hypothesis that lutein carried on HDL is targeted to neural tissue and may be important for cognition.Support or Funding InformationThis work was supported by the Hass Avocado Board and USDA (1950‐51000‐087)

Higher serum carotenoid concentration associated with a lower incidence of metabolic syndrome in middle‐aged and elderly Chinese adults

BackgroundSeveral epidemiological studies revealed associations between carotenoids and the metabolic syndrome (MetS), but limited longitudinal cohort studies have been conducted to regard this association.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to investigate whether serum carotenoids predict the incidence of the Mets and what is accounted for the associations by changes of lipids in a large population‐based study.MethodWe conducted a follow‐up study on 2773 men and women aged 40–75 years without Mets at baseline from the Guangzhou Nutrition and Health Study (GNHS). Blood pressure, waist circumference, blood lipids, glucose and other covariates data were collected in average every 3 years surveys. Serum carotenoids (α‐, β‐carotene, β‐cryptoxanthin, lycopene and lutein/zeaxanthin) were examined by HPLC at baseline.ResultsOver the average 5.4 years follow‐up, 1979 subjects with serum carotenoids assessed at baseline took part in the follow‐up survey at least once and 554 subjects developed new MetS during the follow‐up period. Inverse associations between serum carotenoids and the incidence of MetS were observed. After adjustments for confounders, HRs (95% CIs) of MetS for the highest (v.s. the lowest) quartile were 0.72(0.57, 0.90) for lutein/zeaxanthin, 0.39 (0.31, 0.51) for lycopene, 0.42 (0.32, 0.54) for α‐carotene, 0.45 (0.34, 0.56) for β‐carotene and 0.47(0.37, 0.61) for total carotenoids (all P‐trend &lt;0.05). Other significant favorable associations between changes of HDLc with serum carotenoids were also revealed.ConclusionOur results revealed associations between higher serum carotenoid levels and a lower incidence of MetS in Chinese adults and the favorable influence of carotenoids might be partially driven by an improvement of serum HDLc.Support or Funding InformationThe present study was jointly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81472965, 81130052) and by the 5010 Program for Clinical Researches (No. 2007032) of the Sun Yat‐sen University (Guangzhou, China)

Use of biomarkers to assess fruit and vegetable intake.

A high intake of fruit and vegetables (FV) has been associated with reduced risk of a number of chronic diseases, including CVD. The aim of this review is to describe the potential use of biomarkers to assess FV intake. Traditional methods of assessing FV intake have limitations, and this is likely to impact on observed associations with disease outcomes and markers of disease risk. Nutritional biomarkers may offer a more objective and reliable method of assessing dietary FV intake. Some single blood biomarkers, such as plasma vitamin C and serum carotenoids, are well established as indicators of FV intake. Combining potential biomarkers of intake may more accurately predict overall FV intake within intervention studies than the use of any single biomarker. Another promising approach is metabolomic analysis of biological fluids using untargeted approaches to identify potential new biomarkers of FV intake. Using biomarkers to measure FV intake may improve the accuracy of dietary assessment.

Brain xanthophyll content and exploratory gene expression analysis: subspecies differences in rhesus macaque

BackgroundThe dietary xanthophylls, lutein and zeaxanthin, accumulate in primate retina and brain, and emerging evidence indicates neural lutein content may be beneficial for cognition. Neural xanthophyll content in primates varies greatly among individuals, and genetic factors are likely to be significant contributors. Subspecies of rhesus macaques originating from different geographic locations are known to differ genetically, but the effect of origin on gene expression and carotenoid status has not been determined. The study objective was to determine whether xanthophyll status and expression of carotenoid-related genes, as well as genes with known variants between subspecies, differ between the brains of adult rhesus monkeys of Indian and Chinese origin.MethodsSamples of prefrontal cortex, cerebellum, and striatum were collected from adult monkeys (n = 9) fed a standard stock diet containing carotenoids. Serum and brain carotenoids were determined using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. For each brain region, RNA sequencing and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to determine differentially expressed genes between the subspecies.ResultsIndian-origin monkeys had higher xanthophyll levels in brain tissue compared to Chinese-origin monkeys despite consuming similar amounts of dietary carotenoids. In a region-specific manner, four genes related to carotenoid and fatty acid metabolism (BCO2, RPE65, ELOVL4, FADS2) and four genes involved in the immune response (CD4, CD74, CXCL12 LTBR) were differentially expressed between Indian- and Chinese-origin monkeys. Expression of all four genes involved in carotenoid and fatty acid metabolism were correlated with brain xanthophyll concentration in a region-specific manner.ConclusionsThese results indicate that origin is related to differences in both gene expression and xanthophyll content in the brain. Findings from this study may have important implications regarding genetic diversity, lutein status, and cognition in primates.

Serum carotenoid and tocopherol concentrations and risk of asthma in childhood: a nested case-control study.

The antioxidant hypothesis regarding the risk of asthma in childhood has resulted in inconsistent findings. Some data indicate that the role of antioxidants in childhood asthma risk may have a critical time window of effect, but only a well-designed longitudinal cohort study can clarify this hypothesis. To study the longitudinal associations between serum carotenoid and tocopherol concentrations during the first 4years of life and asthma risk by the age of 5years. Based on a case-control design nested within a Finnish birth cohort, 146 asthma cases were matched to 270 controls on birth time, sex, genetic risk, and birth place. Non-fasting blood samples were collected at the ages of 1, 1.5, 2, 3, and 4years and serum carotenoids and tocopherols were analysed. Parents reported the presence and age at start of persistent doctor-diagnosed asthma in the child at the age of 5years. Data analyses were conducted using generalized estimating equations. We did not find strong associations between serum carotenoids and tocopherols and the risk of asthma based on age-specific and longitudinal analyses. Both lower and higher quarters of α-carotene and γ-tocopherol increased the risk of asthma. The current findings do not support the suggestion that the increased prevalence of asthma may be a consequence of decreased intake of antioxidant nutrients. Moreover, we did not confirm any critical time window of impact of antioxidants on asthma risk. Replication of these findings in similar longitudinal settings will strengthen this evidence base.

Association of serum carotenoid, retinol, and tocopherol concentrations with the progression of Parkinson's Disease.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVESA pivotal role of oxidative stress has been emphasized in the pathogenesis as well as in the disease progression of Parkinson's disease (PD). We aimed at investigating serum levels of antioxidant vitamins and elucidating whether they could be associated with the pathogenesis and progression of PD.MATERIALS/METHODSSerum levels of retinol, α- and γ-tocopherols, α- and β-carotenes, lutein, lycopene, zeaxanthin and β-cryptoxanthin were measured and compared between 104 patients with idiopathic PD and 52 healthy controls matched for age and gender. In order to examine the relationship between antioxidant vitamins and the disease progression, multiple group comparisons were performed among the early PD (Hoehn and Yahr stage I and II, N = 47), advanced PD (stage III and IV, N = 57) and control groups. Separate correlation analyses were performed between the measured antioxidant vitamins and clinical variables, such as Hoehn and Yahr stage and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor score.RESULTSCompared to controls, PD patients had lower levels of α- and β-carotenes and lycopene. α-carotene, β-carotene and lycopene levels were significantly reduced in advanced PD patients relative to early PD patients and were negatively correlated with Hoehn and Yahr stage and UPDRS motor score in PD patients. No significant differences were found in serum levels of retinol, α- and γ-tocopherols, and other carotenoids between PD patients and controls. No significant correlations were found between these vitamin levels and clinical variables in PD patients.CONCLUSIONSWe found that serum levels of some carotenoids, α-carotene, β-carotene and lycopene, were lower in PD patients, and that these carotenoids inversely correlated with clinical variables representing disease progression. Our findings suggest that decreases in serum α-carotene, β-carotene and lycopene may be associated with the pathogenesis as well as progression of PD.

No detectable carotenoid concentrations in serum of llamas and alpacas.

Carotenoids are lipid-soluble pigments and important for a variety of physiological functions. They are major dietary vitamin A precursors and act as lipophilic antioxidants in a variety of tissues and are associated with important health benefits in humans and animals. All animals must acquire carotenoids from their diet, but to our knowledge, there are no studies investigating the intestinal carotenoid absorption and their blood concentrations in New World camelids. The present study aimed to assess the serum concentrations of selected carotenoids in llamas (n=13) and alpacas (n=27). Serum carotenoids as well as retinol (vitamin A) and α-tocopherol (vitamin E) were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and these were unable to detect any carotenoids (α- and β-carotene, α- and β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene) in the samples. The concentrations of retinol in alpacas (2.89±1.13μmol/l; mean±SD) were higher (p=0.024) than those found in llamas (2.05±0.87μmol/l); however, the concentrations of α-tocopherol were not significantly (p=0.166) different (llamas: 3.98±1.83μmol/l; alpacas: 4.95±2.14μmol/l). The results show that both llamas and alpacas are not able to absorb intact carotenoids, but efficiently convert provitamin A carotenoids to retinol.

Vegetable behavioral tool demonstrates validity with MyPlate vegetable cups and carotenoid and inflammatory biomarkers

Young children are not meeting recommendations for vegetable intake. Our objective is to provide evidence of validity and reliability for a pictorial vegetable behavioral assessment for use by federally funded community nutrition programs. Parent/child pairs (n=133) from Head Start and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children [WIC] provided parent-administered vegetable tools, three child 24-hour diet recalls, child blood sample and measured heights/weights. The 10-item Focus on Veggies scale, with an alpha of .83 and a stability reliability coefficient of .74, was positively related to vegetables in cup equivalents [p≤.05]; dietary intakes of folate, vitamin C, β-carotene, potassium and magnesium [p≤.05-.01]; and soluble fiber [p≤.001]. The child vegetable scores were related to the parent's mediators [p≤.00001] and vegetable behaviors [p≤.00001]. Children's plasma inflammatory markers were negatively related to the 10 item scale [p≤.05] and are indicators of the child's health status. The positive relationship between the serum carotenoid index and a sub-scale of child vegetable behaviors offered additional support for criterion validity [p≤.05]. Finally, the inverse relationship of BMI-for-age percentile one year post baseline and a sub-scale of child vegetable behaviors supported the predictive validity [p≤.05]. Focus on Veggies, a simple assessment tool, can inform practitioners about the child's health status. A child with a high score, shows a healthful profile with a lower inflammation index, higher carotenoid index, lower BMI and higher vegetable intake. In conclusion, validity of Focus on Veggies has been demonstrated using vegetable cup equivalents and micronutrient intakes, anthropometry and blood biomarkers.

Association of serum carotenoid concentration with single nucleotide polymorphisms in APOE, BCMO1, NPC1L1, CD36, GSTP1, ABCG5, FABP1, FABP2 and LIPC genes

Association of serum carotenoid concentration with single nucleotide polymorphisms in APOE, BCMO1, NPC1L1, CD36, GSTP1, ABCG5, FABP1, FABP2 and LIPC genes

Serum carotenoids, retinol, and retinyl esters in Midwestern premenopausal women

BackgroundVitamin A status assessment is not straightforward. Serum carotenoids are reflective of dietary intake of fruits and vegetables and thus, may be helpful in identifying populations with sufficient provitamin A carotenoid intake. These measurements may help support other biomarkers of vitamin A status.ObjectivesThis study measured serum carotenoids, retinol, and retinyl esters in 37–50‐year‐old women (n=118) screened for a recent clinical trial.MethodsSerum carotenoids, retinol, and retinyl esters were determined with ultra‐performance LC. Dietary intakes were determined by Harvard Food Frequency Questionnaire (n=118). Total and regional body fat percentages were determined by DXA (n=63). C‐reactive protein (EIA kit, Cayman Chemical Co., Ann Arbor, MI) was used as a measure of inflammationResultsMean total serum carotenoids (α‐ and β‐carotene, β‐cryptoxanthin, lutein, and lycopene) were 2.02 ± 0.76 μmol/L. When lycopene was not included, this value dropped to 1.42 ± 0.70 μmol/L. Provitamin A carotenoids were 1.03 ± 0.62 μmol/L. Serum retinol concentration was 1.55 ± 0.33 μmol/L, and five women had values ≤1.0 μmol/L. Retinyl esters were detected in 36% of subjects (n=43), with an average of 0.05 μmol retinyl esters/L. Retinyl ester percentage of total retinol ranged from 0–29%.ConclusionsSerum retinol concentration was low in 4.2% of the women. Vitamin A assessment may be enhanced by concurrently determining provitamin A carotenoid profiles and retinyl ester concentrations.Support or Funding InformationSupport: Funded by Standard Process, Inc., an endowment entitled “Friday Chair for Vegetable Processing Research”, and Global Health funds.

Associations of serum carotenoids with metabolic‐related diseases in middle‐aged and elderly adults: a cross‐sectional and follow‐up study

ObjectivesPrevious studies have suggested that blood values of carotenoids may be inversely associated with various chronic diseases, but limited data are available in Asian populations. This study examined the associations of serum carotenoids with metabolic sysndrome (MS), non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), carotid intima‐media thickness (cIMT), bone mineral density (BMD) and skeletal muscle mass in adults.MethodsIn this community‐based study, we enrolled 4008 Chinese aged between 40–75 years in Guangzhou, China in 2011–2013. We completed the measurements of overnight fasting serum carotenoids of α‐carotene, β‐carotene, β‐cryptoxanthin, Lutein+zeaxanthin, total of them using a HPLC method, cIMT at the common carotid artery (CCA) and at the bifurcation (BIF) and presence and degree of NAFLD by B‐mode ultrasound, serum lipids, glucose, blood pressure and body measurements, and BMD at the whole body (WB), lumbar spine (LS) and hip (total and neck), and skeletal muscle mass at the limbs using a dual energy x‐ray absorptiometry in about 3000 subjects. Covariates were collected using interviewer‐adminstrated structured questionnaires. Up to date, 1628 subjects had completed the follow‐up measurements of the above outcome variables after a mean interval of 3.1 years (lost rate: 22%).ResultsIn the cross‐sectional analyses after adjusted for multiple covariates, the odds ratios (95%CI) for the individual carotenoids (quartile 4 vs. 1) were ranged between 0·23 (0·15, 0·36) (β‐carotene) to 0·44 0·29, 0·67 (lycopene) for the presence of MS (all p‐trend&lt;0.01), and between 0.32 (0.25,0.41) (β‐carotene) to 0.62 (0.49,0.79) (β‐cryptoxanthin) for the presence of NAFLD (all p‐trend&lt;0.01). The values of IMT in quartie 4 (vs. 1) were lower by 4.16%–5.12% and 2.69%–5.63% for all carotenoids (p‐trend: &lt;0.001), except for lycopene (2.09% &amp; 1.19%) at the CCA and BIF. Greater levels of α‐carotene, β‐carotene, and β‐cryptoxanthin were significantly associated with higher BMD values (difference for quartile 4 vs. 1: 1.5%–4.0%). All carotenoids (except β‐cryptoxanthin) had significant and favorable associations with skeletal muscle mass index (SMI, total muscle mass/height2, kg/m2). The percent differences for quartile 4 (vs. 1) were 1.77%–2.34%. In the follow‐up analyses, the favorable associations of the carotenoids with the changes in IMT, the severity of NAFLD, BMD and SMI were less significant possibly due to smaller number of subjects followed‐up at present, although similar trends were observed to those in the cross‐sectional results.ConclusionsGreater concentrations of serum carotenoids was associated with lower presenc of MS and NAFLD, lower values of cIMT, and higher levels of BMD and skeletal muscle mass, and might be benefit to their changes in middle‐aged and elderly adults.Support or Funding InformationThe study was jointly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 81472965, 81273049, 81130052) and the 5010 Program for Clinical Researches (No. 2007032) by the Sun Yat‐sen University, Guangzhou, China

Increased intake of fruits and vegetables in overweight subjects: effects on body weight, body composition, metabolic risk factors and dietary intake.

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables has been associated with several health benefits. However, the effects on body weight (BW) and metabolic markers are not fully known. The present study investigated the effects of increased intake of fruits and vegetables in overweight and obese men and women on dietary habits, anthropometry and metabolic control. In a 16-week controlled intervention, thirty-four men and thirty-four women aged 35-65 years (BMI>27 kg/m2) were randomised to an intervention (IN) or a reference (RG) group. All participants received general dietary advice, and subjects in the IN group received fruits and vegetables for free, of which ≥500 g had to be eaten daily. BW, waist circumference (WC), sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD), plasma insulin, blood glucose, glycated Hb (HbA1c), serum lipids, blood pressure, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 activity, urinary isoprostane (iso-8-PGF 2α) and serum carotenoids were measured. Diet was assessed using 3-d weighed food records. In all, thirty subjects in the IN group and thirty-two in the RG group completed the intervention. Intake of fruits and vegetables doubled in the IN group, whereas intake of fruits increased in the RG group. Serum α- and β-carotene concentrations and intakes of folate and vitamin C increased significantly in the IN group. Energy intake, BW, WC and SAD decreased significantly in both groups. Supine systolic blood pressure decreased significantly in the IN group, with no between-group differences. No significant changes were observed for other metabolic markers. Provision of fruits and vegetables led to substantially increased intakes, with subsequent favourable changes in anthropometry and insulin levels, which tended to be more pronounced in the IN group. The observed improvements may, in combination with improved nutritional markers, have health benefits in the long term.

Abstract MP22: The Association of Dietary Intake Biomarkers with Rapid Kidney Function Decline: The CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) Study

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Evidence linking dietary intake to CKD is largely focused on management, rather than prevention of CKD. To provide evidence that addresses this gap we analyzed data from CARDIA using objective biomarkers of dietary intake (serum carotenoids and ascorbic acid marking fruit and vegetable intake, tocopherols marking nuts/seeds and oil intake) and serum cystatin C as a measure of kidney filtration. Hypothesis: Higher levels of serum carotenoids, tocopherols and plasma ascorbic acid are inversely associated with rapid kidney function decline. Methods: We analyzed data of subjects from the CARDIA study (N=2,210) with blood measures of dietary biomarkers at year 15 (2000-2001, black and white men and women aged 33-45y), concurrent clinical risk factor data, and measures of cystatin-C at years 15 and 20. GFRcys (ml/min/1.73m 2 ) was estimated from the CKD-EPI (CKD Epidemiology Collaboration) equation for calibrated cystatin C at years 15 and 20. Only subjects with GFRcys &gt; 60 ml/min/1.73m 2 at year 15 were analyzed. Rapid decline was defined as &gt;15% decline in GFRcys over 5 years (or &gt;3% decline per year). Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the Odds Ratio of incident rapid decline over 5 years by quartile of the dietary biomarkers and adjusted for demographic, lifestyle and clinical measures. Results: From year 15 to 20, 15.3% (339 of 2,210) of subjects experienced rapid kidney function decline. There was a strong inverse association after adjustment (P=0.016) between higher levels of the carotenoid index and incidence of rapid decline, but no association with any other measure. There was no evidence that the associations differed by diabetes or hypertension status. Conclusions: These results underscore how a nutrient rich, plant based dietary pattern in early middle-age inversely associates with subsequent rapid kidney function decline and provide insight for dietary recommendations related to CKD prevention.

High serum carotenoids are associated with lower risk for developing elevated serum alanine aminotransferase among Japanese subjects: the Mikkabi cohort study

Many recent studies have shown that antioxidant vitamins and/or carotenoids may reduce liver disease, but this association has not been well established with thorough longitudinal cohort studies. The objective of this study was to longitudinally investigate whether serum carotenoids at baseline are associated with the risk of developing elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) among Japanese subjects. We conducted a follow-up study of 1073 males and females aged between 30 and 79 years at baseline from the Mikkabi prospective cohort study. Those who participated in the baseline study and completed follow-up surveys were examined longitudinally. Exclusions included excessive alcohol consumption (≥60 g alcohol/d), hepatitis B and C and having a history of medication use for liver disease. A cohort of 213 males and 574 females free of elevated serum ALT (>30 IU/ml) at baseline was studied. Over a mean follow-up period of 7·4 (sd 3·1) years, thirty-one males and forty-nine females developed new elevated serum ALT. After adjustments for confounders, the hazard ratios for elevated serum ALT in the highest tertiles of basal serum β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin and total provitamin A carotenoids against the lowest tertiles were 0·43 (95 % CI 0·22, 0·81), 0·51 (CI 0·27, 0·94) and 0·52 (CI 0·28, 0·97), respectively. For α-carotene and lycopene, borderline reduced risks were also observed; however, these were not significant. Our results further support the hypothesis that antioxidant carotenoids, especially provitamin A carotenoids, might help prevent earlier pathogenesis of non-alcoholic liver disease in Japanese subjects.

Oxidative stress, anti-oxidants and the cross-sectional and longitudinal association with depressive symptoms: results from the CARDIA study.

Depression may be accompanied by increased oxidative stress and decreased circulating anti-oxidants. This study examines the association between depressive symptoms, F2-isoprostanes and carotenoids in a US community sample. The study includes 3009 participants (mean age 40.3, 54.2% female) from CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults). Cross-sectional analyses were performed on data from the year 15 examination (2000–2001) including subjects whose depressive symptoms were assessed with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and had measurements of plasma F2-isoprostanes (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) or serum carotenoids (high-performance liquid chromatography). Carotenoids zeaxanthin/lutein, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, α-carotene, β-carotene were standardized and summed. Longitudinal analyses were conducted using the data from other examinations at 5-year intervals. Cross-lagged analyses investigated whether CES-D predicted F2-isoprostanes or carotenoids at the following exam, and vice versa. Regression analyses were controlled for sociodemographics, health and lifestyle factors. F2-isoprostanes were higher in subjects with depressive symptoms (CES-D⩾16) after adjustment for sociodemographics (55.7 vs 52.0 pg ml−1; Cohen's d=0.14, P<0.001). There was no difference in F2-isoprostanes after further adjustment for health and lifestyle factors. Carotenoids were lower in those with CES-D scores ⩾16, even after adjustment for health and lifestyle factors (standardized sum 238.7 vs 244.0, Cohen's d=−0.16, P<0.001). Longitudinal analyses confirmed that depression predicts subsequent F2-isoprostane and carotenoid levels. Neither F2-isoprostanes nor carotenoids predicted subsequent depression. In conclusion, depressive symptoms were cross-sectionally and longitudinally associated with increased F2-isoprostanes and decreased carotenoids. The association with F2-isoprostanes can largely be explained by lifestyle factors, but lower carotenoids were independently associated with depressive symptoms.

Association between leukocyte telomere length and serum carotenoid in US adults.

Telomere length is a biomarker for aging. It is known that oxidative stress can accelerate telomere shortening, whereas antioxidants can delay their shortening. Carotenoids as antioxidants are favorably associated with health- and aging-related diseases caused by oxidative stress, but their association with telomere length is less certain. We investigated the association between blood carotenoid levels and leukocyte telomere length in a representative sample of US adults. We analyzed 3660 participants aged 20years and older in the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The levels of carotenoids-alpha-carotene, beta-carotene (trans+cis), beta-cryptoxanthin, combined lutein/zeaxanthin, and trans-lycopene-were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. The leukocyte telomere length (T/S ratio) was assayed using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction method. A doubling of blood alpha-carotene, beta-carotene (trans+cis), and beta-cryptoxanthin was associated with approximately 2% longer telomeres. Compared with the lowest carotenoid quartile of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene (trans+cis), and beta-cryptoxanthin, telomere length for adults with the highest quartiles was significantly increased by 5-8%. We found that increasing levels of blood carotenoid were significantly associated with longer leukocyte telomeres in US adults. High intake of carotenoid-rich food may play a role in protecting telomeres and regulating telomere length.