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PubMed1997

The possible significance of parallel changes in plasma lutein and retinol in Pakistani infants during the summer season.

Recent evidence suggests that plasma lutein is better correlated than either beta-carotene or lycopene with its respective carotenoid intake and therefore may be a better marker of vegetable intake than either beta-carotene or lycopene. In the study reported in this paper, measurements of plasma carotenes and retinol were made in infants from two villages near Peshawar in the North West Frontier Province, Pakistan, in July and November 1993. The approximate age at the start was 14 months, and 101 boys and ninety girls completed the study. Of the usual plasma carotenes, only lutein was measurable in all samples and was correlated with retinol in both boys (r 0.38, P < 0.0001; r 0.35, P < 0.001) and girls (r 0.21, P = 0.038; r 0.0307, P = 0.003) at the two time points respectively. In addition, the change in lutein was even more strongly correlated with the change in retinol in both boys (r 0.453, P < 0.0001) and girls (r 0.439, P < 0.0001). In August beta-carotene was measurable in approximately 8 % of samples and this increased to 31 % in November but there was no correlation between beta-carotene and retinol at any time. There were negligible amounts of lycopene and beta-cryptoxanthin in plasma at both time points. The mean concentration of plasma retinol in the infants was 0.66 mumol/l at baseline and 59% of the infants had retinol concentrations < 0.7 mumol/l. In addition, there were fifteen infants whose levels were below 0.35 mumol/l suggesting that vitamin A status in the population was marginal. Food intake of the infants was not monitored in the present study but breast feeding continues for up to 2 years in this part of Pakistan and most infants would be weaned onto selected foods eaten by the family. The close correlation between plasma lutein and retinol suggests that the increase in retinol over the summer season may be attributable to an increased availability of green vegetables to the families. The source of lutein to the infants is most likely to be the breast milk since such vegetables are unlikely to be given to infants except to suck as a weaning food. The results may indicate the potential usefulness of plasma lutein as a marker of changes in vegetable intake and changes in vitamin A status in Third World infants and children.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed2003

Cigarette smoking cessation increases plasma levels of several antioxidant micronutrients and improves resistance towards oxidative challenge.

Cigarette smoking is associated epidemiologically with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, but the pathophysiological mechanisms are still not fully understood. There is evidence that smoking is related to increased free radical production and antioxidant depletion, but the effects of smoking cessation on plasma concentrations of antioxidants and susceptibility to oxidative stress are largely unknown. Plasma levels of vitamins A, C, E, uric acid, total thiols, carotenoids (including lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, alpha- and beta-carotene) and malondialdehyde (MDA, a biomarker of lipid peroxidation) were measured in fifteen healthy, normolipidaemic subjects (seven males, eight females, 35.2 (sd 2.3) years) before and 4 weeks after smoking cessation. To determine plasma resistance towards oxidative challenge, plasma was incubated for up to 5 h with the peroxyl radical-generator 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) (AAPH); MDA and ascorbate levels were measured at various time points. The concentrations of all plasma antioxidants were lower before smoking cessation than afterwards; MDA levels were higher before than after termination of smoking. Upon AAPH exposure, the consumption of plasma ascorbate and the production of MDA occurred at a significantly faster rate before smoking cessation as compared with afterwards. Cigarette smoking cessation is followed by a marked increase in plasma antioxidant concentrations and substantially improves plasma resistance towards oxidative challenge. Given the importance of cigarette smoking as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and the pathophysiological role played by oxidative stress in these illnesses, quitting smoking represents an irreplaceable preventive strategy against tobacco-induced oxidative stress and vascular damage.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed1998

Relationship between alcohol and nutrient intakes and blood status indices of older people living in the UK: further analysis of data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey of people aged 65 years and over, 1994/5.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationships between alcohol consumption and a range of nutrient intakes and blood status indices in older people. DESIGN: National Diet and Nutrition Survey: cross-sectional survey of nationally representative sample of people aged 65 years or over. SETTING: Mainland Britain during 1994/5. SUBJECTS: 1198 people (623 males, 575 females) aged 65 years or over, of whom 925 were living in private households and 273 were living in institutions. RESULTS: Intermediate alcohol consumption (particularly 0.1-14 units week(-1); 1 unit = 8 g) derived from a 4-day diet diary or a 12-month recall questionnaire, was associated with higher intakes of vitamins C, E, B1, iron, calcium, energy from food, carbohydrate and non-starch polysaccharides than heavy alcohol consumption (28 + units week(-1)) or abstinence, after adjustment for a number of factors (age, sex, domicile, social class, cigarette smoking, self-reported health, grip strength and total energy intake). Intermediate alcohol consumption was also associated with higher blood concentrations (independent of intake) of vitamin C, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein and calcium, with the lowest concentrations being found in heavy alcohol users. The lowest concentrations of serum ferritin were found in light drinkers and the highest levels in heavier alcohol drinkers. Alcohol consumption ranging from 0.1 to >28 units week(-1) was directly correlated with intakes of B vitamins, total energy and fat, with blood concentrations (independent of intake) of lycopene, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, plasma pyridoxal phosphate and retinol, and with blood pressure and grip strength. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with abstinence and heavy drinking, light to moderate alcohol consumption in older people is associated with higher intakes of certain nutrients, and higher blood concentrations (independent of intake) of some micronutrient status indices, including antioxidants. The explanation for the latter associations remains unclear and further investigation is recommended. Heavier alcohol consumption is associated with both beneficial and adverse effects with respect to nutrient intakes and health status.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Serum carotenoids as biomarkers of fruit and vegetable consumption in the New York Women's Health Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the usefulness of serum carotenoids as biomarkers of fruit and vegetable consumption. DESIGN: : Reproducibility study on three repeat measurements of serum carotenoids. Correlation analysis of carotenoids and dietary food intake, and regression analysis of potential predictive parameters for serum carotenoid levels. SETTING: New York, USA. SUBJECT: : Women participating in the New York Women's Health Study, a prospective study of sex hormones, diet and breast cancer. Forty-eight women with three repeat blood samples and 302 women having a blood sample and a dietary history questionnaire (including 47 subjects from the reproducibility study). RESULTS: Serum carotenoid concentrations were highly reproducible between one- and two-year repeat samples. Estimated fruit and vegetable consumption was positively correlated with serum carotenoid concentrations but correlation coefficients were low. Consumption of fruit was predictive for serum levels of beta-carotene, alpha-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin, while vegetable consumption was predictive for serum beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin and lycopene. Serum concentrations of cholesterol and triglycerides were predictive for serum carotenoids but adjustment for their levels had little or no influence on the correlation between fruit and vegetable consumption and serum carotenoid concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: One single serum measurement of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and lutein can accurately rank subjects according to their usual serum level. Serum concentrations, however, correlate only moderately with estimated dietary intake of fruits or vegetables and should therefore be used with caution as biomarkers of fruit and vegetable intake.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed2003

Selected nutritional biomarkers predict diet quality.

OBJECTIVE: To examine associations of biomarkers of nutrient intake with overall diet quality. SUBJECTS: A convenience sample of 102 healthy postmenopausal women in Seattle, Washington (USA). DESIGN AND METHOD: Participants attended a study centre where they provided fasting blood specimens and completed a 122-item validated food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Data from the FFQ were used to calculate Diet Quality Index (DQI) scores and categorise women as having diets of excellent, good, fair or poor quality. The blood specimens were analysed for nine phospholipid fatty acids (as percentage of total) and serum concentrations of vitamin C, alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, vitamin B12, folate and six carotenoids. Multivariate linear regression was used to model associations of the nutrient biomarkers with DQI scores. RESULTS: Compared with women with poor-quality diets, women with excellent diets, as measured by the DQI, had higher plasma concentrations of vitamin C (P for trend=0.01), alpha-tocopherol (P for trend=0.02) and beta-cryptoxanthin (P for trend=0.03). Women with excellent diets also had lower proportions of plasma phospholipid fatty acids of two potentially atherogenic fatty acids: stearic acid (P for trend=0.01) and behenic acid (P for trend=0.03). A group of six biomarkers explained a moderate proportion of the total variability in DQI scores (36%). CONCLUSIONS: These objective measures of dietary intake support the use of the DQI as a useful tool to measure dietary patterns.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Plasma levels of six carotenoids in nine European countries: report from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC).

BACKGROUND: In addition to their possible direct biological effects, plasma carotenoids can be used as biochemical markers of fruit and vegetable consumption for identifying diet-disease associations in epidemiological studies. Few studies have compared levels of these carotenoids between countries in Europe. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to assess the variability of plasma carotenoid levels within the cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). METHODS: Plasma levels of six carotenoids--alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin--were measured cross-sectionally in 3043 study subjects from 16 regions in nine European countries. We investigated the relative influence of gender, season, age, body mass index (BMI), alcohol intake and smoking status on plasma levels of the carotenoids. RESULTS: Mean plasma level of the sum of the six carotenoids varied twofold between regions (1.35 micromol l(-1) for men in Malmö, Sweden vs. 2.79 micromol l(-1) for men in Ragusa/Naples, Italy; 1.61 micromol l(-1) for women in The Netherlands vs. 3.52 micromol l(-1) in Ragusa/Naples, Italy). Mean levels of individual carotenoids varied up to fourfold (alpha-carotene: 0.06 micromol l(-1) for men in Murcia, Spain vs. 0.25 micromol l(-1) for vegetarian men living in the UK). In multivariate regression analyses, region was the most important predictor of total plasma carotenoid level (partial R(2)=27.3%), followed by BMI (partial R(2)=5.2%), gender (partial R(2)=2.7%) and smoking status (partial R(2)=2.8%). Females had higher total carotenoid levels than males across Europe. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma levels of carotenoids vary substantially between 16 different regions in Italy, Greece, Spain, France, Germany, the UK, Sweden, Denmark and The Netherlands. Compared with region of residence, the other demographic and lifestyle factors and laboratory measurements have limited predictive value for plasma carotenoid levels in Europe.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed2006

Association of carotenoids, tocopherols and vitamin C in plasma with allergic rhinitis and allergic sensitisation in adults.

OBJECTIVES: Antioxidant nutrients like carotenoids, tocopherols and vitamin C have been suggested to protect against allergic rhinitis and allergic sensitisation but scientific evidence is scarce. The aims of the study were to measure the plasma concentration of six carotenoids, alpha- and gamma-tocopherol and vitamin C as biomarkers of the intake, absorption and subsequent metabolism of these nutrients, and to assess their association with allergic rhinitis and sensitisation. METHOD: Data from a cross-sectional study on representative dietary and lifestyle habits of the population of Bavaria, Germany, were analysed. The plasma levels of six carotenoids (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein/zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin and cryptoxanthin) as well as of alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol and vitamin C were measured in 547 adults aged between 19 and 81 years. Participants with specific serum immunoglobulin E > or =700 U l(-1) were categorised as sensitised. The association of plasma antioxidant levels, allergic rhinitis and allergic sensitisation was assessed by means of unconditional logistic regression models. RESULTS: We observed a negative association between plasma total carotenoids and the prevalence of allergic rhinitis, with odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 1.13 (0.54-2.39) for the second, 0.72 (0.33-1.58) for the third and 0.44 (0.19-1.03) for the fourth quartile of total carotenoids concentration (P for trend=0.0332); results for lycopene failed to reach statistical significance (P=0.0608). Other single carotenoids, tocopherols and vitamin C were unrelated to allergic rhinitis. Allergic sensitisation was negatively associated with plasma gamma-tocopherol, with odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 0.92 (0.51-1.65) for the second, 1.00 (0.56-1.80) for the third and 0.45 (0.23-0.88) for the fourth quartile of plasma gamma-tocopherol concentration (P for trend=0.0410). No other antioxidant was significantly related to allergic sensitisation. CONCLUSIONS: High plasma carotenoid concentrations reflecting a diet high in various fruits and vegetables might have a protective effect on allergic rhinitis in adulthood.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Carotenoid content of pandanus fruit cultivars and other foods of the Republic of Kiribati.

BACKGROUND: Kiribati, a remote atoll island country of the Pacific, has serious problems of vitamin A deficiency (VAD). Thus, it is important to identify locally grown acceptable foods that might be promoted to alleviate this problem. Pandanus fruit (Pandanus tectorius) is a well-liked indigenous Kiribati food with many cultivars that have orange/yellow flesh, indicative of carotenoid content. Few have been previously analysed. AIM: This study was conducted to identify cultivars of pandanus and other foods that could be promoted to alleviate VAD in Kiribati. METHOD: Ethnography was used to select foods and assess acceptability factors. Pandanus and other foods were analysed for beta- and alpha-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene and total carotenoids using high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Of the nine pandanus cultivars investigated there was a great range of provitamin A carotenoid levels (from 62 to 19,086 microg beta-carotene/100 g), generally with higher levels in those more deeply coloured. Seven pandanus cultivars, one giant swamp taro (Cyrtosperma chamissonis) cultivar and native fig (Ficus tinctoria) had significant provitamin A carotenoid content, meeting all or half of estimated daily vitamin A requirements within normal consumption patterns. Analyses in different laboratories confirmed high carotenoid levels in pandanus but showed that there are still questions as to how high the levels might be, owing to variation arising from different handling/preparation/analytical techniques. CONCLUSIONS: These carotenoid-rich acceptable foods should be promoted for alleviating VAD in Kiribati and possibly other Pacific contexts where these foods are important. Further research in the Pacific is needed to identify additional indigenous foods with potential health benefits.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed1989

Normal serum response to oral beta-carotene in humans.

This study was performed to determine (1) the normal serum response to a single oral dose of beta-carotene (BC), (2) the effect of meal timing and serum response to meal lipids on serum BC, (3) the effect of administered BC on other serum carotenoids and retinoids, and (4) the relationship of body composition to serum BC response. Subjects consumed one BC dose with a liquid 500 kcal BC-free diet; fasting and hourly venous blood was collected for 8 hours and again at 24 hours. A second liquid BC-free meal was consumed 4 hours post-dosing; this midday meal was omitted in some subjects. Serum BC levels rose and peaked initially at 5 hours, but continued to be absorbed in most subjects, remaining significantly elevated at 24 hours as compared to baseline values (p less than 0.001), independent of BC dose. The area under the BC absorption curve (8-hr AUC) increased linearly with BC dose and correlated positively with peak serum triglycerides (TG) after a meal (n = 26 tests, r = 0.56, p less than 0.003). Omission of the midday meal significantly delayed the initial BC peak to 7 hours (p less than 0.0004). Serum levels of retinol, alpha-carotene, cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and lutein remained unchanged. Serum retinyl esters did not rise in all subjects following BC intake; when it did, retinyl esters rose and peaked concomitantly with BC, but declined within 8 hours. There was no correlation between the initial serum BC, peak BC, 24-hr BC, 8-hr AUC, or peak serum TG and the percentage of body fat. We conclude that: (1) the timing of the serum response to oral BC is independent of dose, (2) the serum BC response is greater in those with a greater serum triglyceride response to meal lipids, (3) BC at the doses given does not alter the levels of other serum carotenoids, and (4) there is no correlation between the serum BC parameters measured and adiposity.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2003

Changes in serum retinol, alpha-tocopherol, vitamin C, carotenoids, xinc and selenium after micronutrient supplementation during alcohol rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE: To test the effect of a 21-day supplementation with moderate doses of antioxidant nutrients on biochemical indicators of vitamin, carotenoid and trace element levels in alcohol-dependent patients during a program of alcohol rehabilitation. DESIGN: A randomized double-blind trial was performed comparing two groups receiving daily either a combination of micronutrients (beta-carotene: 6 mg, vitamin C: 120 mg, vitamin E: 30 mg, zinc: 20 mg, selenium: 100 micro g) or a placebo. SUBJECTS: 106 alcohol-dependent patients 20 to 60 years of age without severe liver disease, hospitalized for a 21-day rehabilitation program. Measure of Outcome: Vitamin C, retinol, alpha-tocopherol, zeaxanthin/lutein, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, alpha- and beta-carotene, zinc and selenium were measured in serum, initially and after supplementation. RESULTS: (1) In the placebo group, after 21 days of rehabilitation, serum concentrations of vitamin C and all five carotenoids significantly increased, whereas retinol and alpha-tocopherol concentrations decreased; zinc and selenium levels were unaffected. (2) At the end of the hospital stay, serum indicators were significantly improved in the supplement group as compared to the placebo group for vitamin C, alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, zinc and selenium; conversely, lycopene changes were higher in the placebo group than in supplement group. (3) Of the serum antioxidants measured at entrance, only vitamin C was significantly depleted in heavy smokers, and, after the supplementation period, vitamin C was efficiently repleted in this later group. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that a short-term supplementation with physiological doses of antioxidant vitamins, carotenoids and trace elements during alcohol rehabilitation clearly improves micronutrient status indicators. Heavy smokers in particular seem to respond to vitamin C supplementation.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Effects of high fruit-vegetable and/or low-fat intervention on plasma micronutrient levels.

OBJECTIVES: Higher plasma micronutrient levels have been associated with decreased cancer risks. The objective of this study was to determine the relative effects of reduced fat and/or increased fruit-vegetable (FV) intakes on plasma micronutrient levels. METHODS: Healthy, premenopausal women with a family history of breast cancer (n = 122) were randomized across four diet arms for one year in a 2 x 2 factorial design study: control, low-fat, high fruit-vegetable and combination low-fat/high FV diets. Levels of plasma micronutrients were measured in plasma at 0, 3, 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: The high FV intervention, regardless of fat intake, significantly increased alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and vitamin C levels in plasma. Only the combination high FV, low-fat intervention significantly increased plasma beta-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin levels over time. Although alpha-tocopherol was not affected, a potential concern is that the low-fat intervention resulted in significantly decreased both gamma-tocopherol dietary intakes and plasma levels, regardless of whether or not FV intakes were concomitantly increased. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol plasma levels were decreased by a low fat diet, perhaps because gamma-tocopherol is not generally added to foods nor widely used in vitamin E supplements. The decreased dietary intakes and plasma levels of gamma-tocopherol with a low-fat diet may have implications for health risks since the biological functions of the different tocopherol isomers have been reported to be distinct.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Determination of vitamin A in foods--a review.

Formerly, few foods were routinely analyzed for vitamin A, but recent emphasis on nutrient requirements, nutrient labeling, and use of dietary convenience foods has created need for determining vitamin A in a variety of foods. There are many vitamin A methods--some suitable for certain products only. For regulatory purposes, the FDA specifies the AOAC method where it is applicable. However, some food analysts and organizations continue with their own vitamin A methods. If possible, a single, widely applicable general method should be used for vitamin A in foods. Vitamin A may be determined by spectrophotometric, colorimetric, and fluorometric procedures. Sometimes chromatography is required as an important part of the method. Colorimetric procedures with SbCl3 are now most widely used to measure vitamin A (retinol) in foods. If vitamin A content is high enough and extracts sufficiently free of interfering substances, spectrophotometric or flurometric methods are satisfactory. Methods in various stages of development for determining vitamin A in foods are based on flurospectrophotometry, gas-liquid chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and automation. To estimate total vitamin A nutritional value of certain foods may also require determination of vitamin A isomerization and contents of carotenes, cryptoxanthin, reinaldehyde, and apo-carotenal.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2002

Plasma carotenoid and malondialdehyde levels in ischemic stroke patients: relationship to early outcome.

An association between ischemic stroke and increased oxidative stress has been suggested from animal studies. However, there is a lack of evidence with respect to this association in humans. Here, the time course of plasma levels of six carotenoids, which are lipophilic micronutrients with antioxidant properties, as well as of malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation, was followed in ischemic stroke patients. Plasma levels of lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, alpha- and beta-carotene, as well as MDA were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography in 28 subjects (19 men and nine women aged 76.9+/-8.7 years) with an acute ischemic stroke of recent onset (<24h) on admission, after 6 and 24 h, and on days 3, 5, and 7. Carotenoid and MDA levels in patients on admission were compared with those of age- and sex-matched controls. Plasma levels of lutein, lycopene, alpha- and beta-carotene were significantly lower and levels of MDA were significantly higher in patients in comparison with controls. Significantly higher levels of MDA and lower levels of lutein were found in patients with a poor early-outcome (functional decline) after ischemic stroke as compared to patients who remained functionally stable. These findings suggest that the majority of plasma carotenoids are lowered immediately after an ischemic stroke, perhaps as a result of increased oxidative stress, as indicated by a concomitant rise in MDA concentrations. Among the carotenoids, only lutein plasma changes are associated with a poor early-outcome.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Bioavailability of lutein from vegetables is 5 times higher than that of beta-carotene.

BACKGROUND: To gain more insight into the relation between vegetable consumption and the risk of chronic diseases, it is important to determine the bioavailability of carotenoids from vegetables and the effect of vegetable consumption on selected biomarkers of chronic diseases. OBJECTIVE: To assess the bioavailability of beta-carotene and lutein from vegetables and the effect of increased vegetable consumption on the ex vivo oxidizability of LDL. DESIGN: Over 4 wk, 22 healthy adult subjects consumed a high-vegetable diet (490 g/d), 22 consumed a low-vegetable diet (130 g/d), and 10 consumed a low-vegetable diet supplemented with pure beta-carotene (6 mg/d) and lutein (9 mg/d). RESULTS: Plasma concentrations of vitamin C and carotenoids (ie, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-cryptoxanthin) were significantly higher after the high-vegetable diet than after the low-vegetable diet. In addition to an increase in plasma beta-carotene and lutein, the pure carotenoid-supplemented diet induced a significant decrease in plasma lycopene concentration of -0.11 micromol/L (95% CI: -0.21, -0.0061). The responses of plasma beta-carotene and lutein to the high-vegetable diet were 14% and 67%, respectively, of those to the pure carotenoid- supplemented diet. Conversion of beta-carotene to retinol may have attenuated its plasma response compared with that of lutein. There was no significant effect on the resistance of LDL to oxidation ex vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Increased vegetable consumption enhances plasma vitamin C and carotenoid concentrations, but not resistance of LDL to oxidation. The relative bioavailability of lutein from vegetables is higher than that of beta-carotene.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

A method for determining concentrations of retinol, tocopherol, and five carotenoids in human plasma and tissue samples.

To explore the relation between plasma and tissue concentrations of seven fat-soluble micronutrients (retinol, alpha-tocopherol, lutein, cryptoxanthin, lycopene, alpha-carotene, and beta-carotene), we developed methods for clarifying plasma and tissue samples and quantitating these seven analytes simultaneously by using HPLC with ultraviolet detection. Clarification of tissue samples was performed by using enzymatic digestion followed by mechanical homogenization; saponification was avoided and tocopherol nicotinate was used as an internal standard. Precision and sensitivity for small samples of plasma and solid tissues were determined. Accuracy for plasma samples was assessed by comparing results obtained by using this method with those obtained by using older, standardized methods. Results from application of this method to patient samples of plasma and various tissues are presented. This method will be of interest to investigators seeking to quantitate these seven micronutrients in solid tissue samples, but desiring to avoid the usual saponification step required in most other reported techniques.

Breast↗
PubMed1993

The correlation between two dietary assessments of carotenoid intake and plasma carotenoid concentrations: application of a carotenoid food-composition database.

A newly available carotenoid food-composition database providing specific carotenoid values for > 2300 foods was linked to dietary data on 57 male nonsmokers to examine the association between dietary carotenoid intake and plasma carotenoid concentrations over 3 wk when free-living. Carotenoid intake was estimated from a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and 7 d of food diaries with concurrent analysis of plasma carotenoid concentrations. After adjustment for energy intake, percentage of energy from alcohol, and plasma lipid concentrations, significant diet-plasma correlations for the FFQ and the food diaries (FD) included alpha-carotene (r = 0.29 and 0.43), beta-carotene (r = 0.36 FFQ only), beta-cryptoxanthin (r = 0.46 and 0.44), lutein (r = 0.44 FD only), and lycopene (r = 0.53 FD only). Dietary carotenoid intakes were associated with plasma carotenoid concentrations for all the carotenoids except for beta-carotene when food diaries were used whereas the diet-plasma correlation for the provitamin A carotenoids were consistently significant when the FFQ was used.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Effect of smoking on serum nutrient concentrations in African-American women.

The relationship between current cigarette smoking and serum concentrations of vitamins C, E, and A, and of five carotenoids in human serum were examined in 91 low-income, African-American women. General linear models were used to adjust geometric mean serum concentrations of micronutrients for age, dietary and supplement intakes, total energy intake, alcohol intake, medication use, body mass index, and serum concentrations of cholesterol and triglycerides. Among smokers, serum concentrations of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, cryptoxanthin, and lycopene averaged only 71-79% of the concentrations among nonsmokers. Mean serum concentrations of vitamins C and E and lutein/zeaxanthin were only slightly lower among smokers relative to nonsmokers, and current smokers had higher serum concentrations of vitamin A. Among current smokers, mean serum concentrations of all five carotenoids decreased with an increase in the amount smoked. The negative effect of smoking on serum concentrations of antioxidant carotenoids may pose a serious health risk in low-income populations already at higher risk for many chronic diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Relationship between dietary intake and plasma concentrations of carotenoids in premenopausal women: application of the USDA-NCI carotenoid food-composition database.

The diet-plasma relationships for carotenoids were examined in a group of 98 nonsmoking premenopausal women who participated in the cross-sectional phase of the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-US Department of Agriculture (USDA) diet study on alcohol-hormone metabolism, 1988-90. With use of the newly developed USDA-NCI carotenoid food-composition database, the mean daily intakes of carotenoids were significantly higher when estimated from the food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) than from the 7-d diet records. Lycopene (mean = 0.58 mmol/L), lutein plus zeaxanthin (mean = 0.46 mmol/L), and beta-carotene (mean = 0.34 mmol/L) were the major plasma carotenoids. After adjustment for body mass index, energy and alcohol intakes, and total plasma cholesterol concentration, the following significant correlation (P < 0.05) were observed between the diet record and the FFQ-estimated carotenoid intakes and their respective plasma concentrations: alpha-carotene (r = 0.58 vs 0.49), beta-carotene (r = 0.51 vs 0.49), beta-cryptoxanthin (r = 0.49 vs 0.36), lutein plus zeaxanthin (r = 0.31 vs 0.37), lycopene (r = 0.50 vs 0.26), and total carotenoids (r = 0.57 vs 0.49). These data indicate that plasma carotenoid concentrations are reflective of dietary intake, but the magnitude of the correlation varies depending on the specific carotenoid and on the dietary assessment tool.

Adult↗