Serum carotenoids and vitamins in relation to markers of endothelial
article
Background: Endothelial cell dysfunction may be related to an increase in cellular oxidative stress. Carotenoids and vitamins could have an antioxidant-mediated tempering influence on endothelial function and inflammation, thereby reducing the risk of atherosclerosis. Methods: We measured serum carotenoids, α-tocopherol and Vitamin C concentrations in 379 subjects sampled from the general population. High-sensitive C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen (Fbg) and leukocytes were measured as markers of inflammation. Furthermore, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD; n=165) were measured as markers of endothelial function. Relationships between serum carotenoids and vitamins and markers of endothelial function and inflammation were analysed after adjustment for confounding. Results: In the total study group, lutein and lycopene were inversely related to sICAM-1 with regression-coefficients of -0.38 ± 0.19 (p=0.04) and -0.16 ± 0.08 (p=0.04) per 1 μmol/l, respectively. β-Carotene was inverse related to leukocytes (-0.23 ± 0.07; p=0.007) and CRP (-1.09 ± 0.30; p=0.0003) per 1 μmol/l. Vitamin C was inverse related to CRP (-0.01 ± 0.005; p=0.04) per 1 μmol/l, whereas α-tocopherol was positively related to CRP (0.03 ± 0.01; p=0.02) per 1 μ/l. Zeaxanthin was inversely related to FMD (31.2 ± 15.3; p=0.04) per 1 μmol/l. Conclusion: The inverse relations between carotenoids, Vitamin C and sICAM-1, CRP and leukocytes may help to explain the possible protective effect of carotenoids and Vitamin C on atherosclerosis through an influence on inflammatory processes and endothelial function.
Topics
Physiological SciencesCarotenoidsEndothelial functionInflammationVitaminsAlpha tocopherolAscorbic acidBeta caroteneBeta cryptoxanthinC reactive proteinCarotenoidIntercellular adhesion molecule 1LycopeneUnclassified drugZeaxanthinBlood flowDisease markerInflammationLeukocytePopulation researchVascular endotheliumVasodilatationVitamin blood levelAdultAlpha-TocopherolAscorbic AcidBeta CaroteneBiological MarkersC-Reactive ProteinCarotenoidsCross-Sectional StudiesEndothelium, VascularFemaleFibrinogenHumansIntercellular Adhesion Molecule-1MaleMiddle AgedSmokingXanthophylls
TNO Identifier
238045
ISSN
03932990
Source
European Journal of Epidemiology, 19(10), pp. 915-921.
Pages
915-921
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