Serum carotenoids and markers of inflammation in nonsmokers.
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| Abstract |
One explanation for discrepant results between epidemiologic studies and randomized trials of beta-carotene and cardiovascular disease may be a failure to consider inflammation as a confounder. To evaluate the potential for such confounding, the authors relate the serum concentrations of five carotenoids (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and lutein/zeaxanthin) to levels of three inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and white blood cell count) measured during the Third National Health and Nutrition Survey, 1988-1994. The analysis included 4,557 nonsmoking participants aged 25-55 years. Adjusted concentrations of all five carotenoids were significantly lower in those with C-reactive protein levels above 0.88 mg/dl (p = 0.001). There was a trend toward lower adjusted beta-cryptoxanthin concentrations with increasing level of fibrinogen (p value test for trend = 0.01), but other carotenoids were not related. Many of the carotenoid concentrations were lower among participants with high white blood cell counts. After log transformation, only adjusted mean beta-carotene levels were significantly lower in those with white blood cell counts above 7.85 x 10(9)/liter (p < 0.01). These cross-sectional data do not clarify the biologic relation between carotenoids and C-reactive protein but, to the extent that the carotenoids are associated with C-reactive protein levels, a carotenoid-heart disease association may be, in part, an inflammation-heart disease association.
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| Authors | S B Kritchevsky, A J Bush, M Pahor, M D Gross |
| Journal | American journal of epidemiology (Am J Epidemiol) Vol. 152 Issue 11 Pg. 1065-71 (Dec 01 2000) ISSN: 0002-9262 [Print] United States |
| PMID | 11117616 (Publication Type: Journal Article) |
| Chemical References |
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