alpha-carotene and Cardiovascular-Diseases

Cardiovascular disease related to atherosclerosis represents nowadays the largest cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries. Due to inflammatory nature of atherosclerosis, several studies had been conducted in order to search for substances with anti-inflammatory activity on arterial walls, able to exert beneficial roles on health. Researches investigated the role of dietary carotenoids supplementation on cardiovascular disease, due to their free radicals scavenger properties and their skills in improving low-density lipoprotein cholesterol resistance to oxidation. Nevertheless, literature data are conflicting: although some studies found a positive relationship between carotenoids supplementation and cardiovascular risk reduction, others did not find any positive effects or even prooxidant actions. This paper aimed at defining the role of carotenoids supplementation on cardiovascular risk profile by reviewing literature data, paying attention to those carotenoids more present in our diet (β-carotene, α-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin).

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antioxidants; Atherosclerosis; beta Carotene; Cardiovascular Diseases; Carotenoids; Cholesterol, LDL; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cryptoxanthins; Diet; Free Radical Scavengers; Humans; Lutein; Lycopene; Oxygen; Risk; Xanthophylls; Zeaxanthins

In vitro, ex vivo and animal studies suggest palm-based tocotrienols and carotenes enhance vascular function, but limited data in humans exists. The aim was to examine the effects of palm-tocotrienols (TRF- 80) and palm-carotene (CC-60) supplementation on vascular function and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in adults at increased risk of impaired vascular function.. Plasma α- and β-carotene and α-, δ- and γ-tocotrienol concentrations increased in CC-60 and TRF-80 groups, respectively, compared to placebo (mean ± SE difference in total plasma carotene change between CC-60 and placebo: 1.5 ± 0.13 μg/ml, p < 0.0001; total plasma tocotrienol change between TRF-80 and placebo: 0.36 ± 0.05 μg/ml, p < 0.0001). Neither FMD (treatment x time effect for CC-60 vs. placebo, p = 0.71; TRF-80 vs. placebo, p = 0.80) nor any other vascular function and CVD outcomes were affected by treatments.. CC-60 and TRF-80 supplementation increased bioavailability of palm-based carotenes and tocotrienols but had no effects, superior or detrimental, on vascular function or CVD risk factors.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; beta Carotene; Blood Glucose; Brachial Artery; Cardiovascular Diseases; Carotenoids; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Inflammation; Insulin; Male; Middle Aged; Oxidative Stress; Palm Oil; Risk Factors; Tocotrienols; Young Adult

Recent studies suggest increased cancer risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) compared with healthy individuals. The present study aims to assess whether T2DM is associated with increased genome instability and whether a healthy diet with natural foods can improve genome stability in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). Seventy-six diabetic and 21 non-diabetic individuals were randomly assigned to either an 'intervention' or an 'information only' group. All participants received information about the beneficial effects of a healthy diet, while subjects of the intervention group received additionally 300g of vegetables and 25ml of plant oil rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids per day for 8 weeks. Chromosomal damage was assessed using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus (MN) cytome assay. Levels of chromosomal damage did not differ between diabetic and non-diabetic individuals. However, diabetic individuals with MN frequency above the high 50th percentile had significantly higher levels of fasting plasma glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin and were at higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), assessed by the Framingham general cardiovascular risk score. Non-diabetic individuals with MN frequency above the 50th percentile had significantly lower vitamin B12 levels. The intervention with vegetables and plant oil led to significant increases in folate, γ-tocopherol, α- and β-carotene while vitamin B12 was significantly reduced. Levels of chromosomal damage were not altered, only apoptosis was slightly increased. The results suggest interactions between glycaemic control, CVD risk and genome stability in individuals with T2DM. However, a healthy diet does not improve genome damage in PBLs.

Topics: Aged; Anthropometry; beta Carotene; Blood Glucose; Blood Pressure; Cardiovascular Diseases; Carotenoids; Chromosome Aberrations; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; DNA Damage; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Female; Folic Acid; gamma-Tocopherol; Genome, Human; Genomic Instability; Glycated Hemoglobin; Humans; Lymphocytes; Male; Micronucleus Tests; Middle Aged; Plant Oils; Risk Factors; Vegetables; Vitamin B 12

Excessive consumption of energy and fat increases the risk for obesity. Snacks containing sucrose polyesters (SPE) as a dietary fat replacer are on the market in the United States. SPE products have been shown to lower concentrations of serum carotenoids in short-term studies. Experimental studies on the longer-term effects on health of decreased carotenoid concentrations are lacking. A 1-y randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel trial was performed. Subjects (n = 380) with a habitual low or high fruit and vegetable intake were assigned to the treatments (0, 7, 10 or 17 g/d SPE). SPE was given in the form of spreads, chips or both. The groups were compared for serum carotenoids, vitamins and markers of oxidative damage, eye health, cardiovascular health and immune status. After 1 y, serum lipid-adjusted carotenoids showed the largest decrease in the SPE chips and spread group (17 g/d) compared with the control group [alpha-carotene 33%; beta-carotene 31%, lycopene 24%, beta-cryptoxanthin 18%, lutein 18% (all P < 0.001) and zeaxanthin 13% (P < 0.05)]. Consumption of SPE spread (10 g/d SPE) decreased carotenoid concentrations by 11-29% (all P < 0.05). SPE chips (7 g/d SPE) decreased zeaxanthin (11%), beta-carotene (12%) and alpha-carotene (21%; all P < 0.05). Serum lipid adjusted alpha-tocopherol decreased significantly by 6-8% (all P < 0.001) in all SPE groups. No negative effects were observed on markers of oxidation, eye health, cardiovascular health or immune status. This study shows that decreases in serum carotenoid concentrations do not affect possible markers of disease risk.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; alpha-Tocopherol; beta Carotene; Body Weight; Cardiovascular Diseases; Carotenoids; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; Double-Blind Method; Endothelium, Vascular; Eye Diseases; Fatty Acids; Female; Health Status; Humans; Immunity; Lipid Peroxidation; Lipids; Macula Lutea; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Compliance; Placebos; Risk Factors; Sucrose; Xanthophylls; Zeaxanthins

There is limited research on the associations between serum nutritional biomarkers and mortality risk in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Existing studies merely investigated the single-biomarker effect. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the combined effect of nutritional biomarker mixtures and mortality risk using the Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) model in patients with MetS.. We included the MetS patients, defined according to the 2018 Guideline on the Management of Blood Cholesterol from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2006. A total of 20 serum nutritional biomarkers were measured and evaluated in this study. The Cox proportional hazard model and restricted cubic spline models were used to evaluate the individual linear and non-linear association of 20 nutritional biomarkers with mortality risk. Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) was used to assess the associations between mixture of nutritional biomarkers and mortality risk.. A total of 1455 MetS patients had a median age of 50 years (range: 20-85). During a median of 17.1-year follow-up, 453 (24.72%) died: 146 (7.20%) caused by CVD and 87 (5.26%) by cancer. Non-linear and linear analyses indicated that, in total, eight individual biomarkers (α-carotene, β-carotene, bicarbonate, lutein/zeaxanthin, lycopene, potassium, protein, and vitamin A) were significantly associated with all-cause mortality (all. Our findings support the evidence that nutritional status was associated with long-term health outcomes in MetS patients. It is necessary for MetS patients to be concerned with certain nutritional status (i.e., vitamins and mineral elements).

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Bayes Theorem; Biomarkers; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cause of Death; Humans; Metabolic Syndrome; Middle Aged; Nutrition Surveys; Vitamins; Young Adult

An effect of dietary carotenes on risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is uncertain. We aimed to investigate whether the association between dietary carotenes intake and risk of CVD mortality will persist after controlling for the intakes of potential cardioprotective dietary factors that correlate with dietary alpha- and/or beta-carotenes.. We followed up a total of 58,646 Japanese between 1988 and 1990 and 2009. We used a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to determine the dietary intakes of carotenes, and estimated the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of CVD mortality in relation to carotene intake by the proportional hazard regression developed by David Cox. During 965,970 person-years of follow-up (median 19.3 years), we identified 3388 total CVD deaths. After adjusting for demographic and lifestyle factors, dietary intakes of alpha-carotene were significantly associated with the reduced risk of mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD); adjusted HR (95% CI) in the highest versus lowest quintiles of intake was 0.75 (0.58-0.96; P-trend = 0.02) and dietary intakes of beta-carotene were significantly associated with the reduced risk of mortality from CVD, CHD, and other CVD; adjusted HRs (95% CIs) were 0.88 (0.79-0.98; P-trend = 0.04), 0.78 (0.61-0.99; P-trend = 0.01), and 0.81 (0.67-0.98; P-trend = 0.04), respectively. However, after further adjusting for the dietary intakes of potassium, calcium, vitamins C, E, or K, these associations disappeared.. -Dietary alpha- and beta-carotene intakes were not associated with risk of CVD mortality after controlling for intakes of other potential cardioprotective nutrients.

Topics: Aged; beta Carotene; Cardiovascular Diseases; Carotenoids; Cause of Death; Diet, Healthy; Female; Humans; Japan; Male; Middle Aged; Nutritive Value; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Protective Factors; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Risk Reduction Behavior; Time Factors

Although the associations of antioxidant micronutrients, such as carotenoids and vitamins, with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have been studied extensively, blood concentrations of antioxidant micronutrients and heart rate variability (HRV), which has been proven to be an indicator of cardiac autonomic control, has not been reported. We aimed to explore whether blood concentrations of antioxidant micronutrients, including carotenoids and vitamins, are associated with elevated heart rate variability (HRV (beneficial change) in a cross-sectional analysis.. Data were obtained from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study that includes a general adult population. A total of 1074 (aged 34-84) individuals were included. Multivariable analyses were performed to investigate the association between main blood carotenoids (total lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, 13-cis-beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, all-trans-beta-carotene and total lycopene) and vitamins A (retinol) and E (gamma-tocopherol and alpha-tocopherol) and HRV after adjustments were made for lifestyle factors and age-related confounders.. Pearson correlation analyses showed that the increased levels of carotenoids and vitamins were positively correlated with higher HRV (all P < 0.05). After adjustments were made for age, gender, race, body mass index(BMI), ever-smoker, number of drinking years and exercise, blood alpha-carotene, all-trans-beta-carotene and total lycopene levels were independently associated with higher HRV in the linear regression model (all P < 0.05). Sensitivity analysis by adding "ever chronic respiratory diseases" as a covariate suggested that blood concentrations of these three carotenoids were still associated with higher low-frequency (LF)-HRV and high-frequency (HF)-HRV (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, stratified analyses suggested that the associations were affected by adding "heart disease" and "hypertension" as covariates.. We provide the first evidence that elevated blood concentrations of alpha-carotene, trans-beta-carotene and lycopene are associated with beneficial changes in HRV in the general population. Daily intake of fruit and vegetables may be beneficial to increase blood carotenoid status and further prevent autonomic dysfunction.

Topics: Adult; beta Carotene; Cardiovascular Diseases; Carotenoids; Cross-Sectional Studies; Heart Rate; Humans; Lycopene

The role of beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol, and vitamin C in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is controversial. Prospective studies on gamma-tocopherol and carotenoids other than beta-carotene are sparse. We assessed relations between the intake of different carotenoids, alpha- and gamma-tocopherol, and vitamin C with 15-y CVD mortality in elderly men who participated in the Zutphen Elderly Study. Information on diet and potential confounding factors was collected in 1985, 1990, and 1995. In 1985, 559 men (mean age approximately 72 y) free of chronic diseases were included in the current analysis. After 15 y of follow-up, comprising 5744 person-years, 197 men had died from CVD. After adjustment for age, smoking, and other potential lifestyle and dietary confounders, relative risks (RR) (95% CI) of CVD death for a 1-SD increase in intake were 0.81 (0.66-0.99) for alpha-carotene and 0.80 (0.66-0.97) for beta-carotene. Carrots were the primary source of alpha- and beta-carotene and their consumption was related to a lower risk of death from CVD (adjusted RR, 0.83; 95% CI = 0.68-1.00). Intakes of carotenoids other than alpha- and beta-carotene were not associated with CVD mortality, nor were vitamin C and alpha- and gamma tocopherol. In conclusion, dietary intakes of alpha-carotene and beta-carotene are inversely associated with CVD mortality in elderly men. This study does not indicate an important role for other carotenoids, tocopherols, or vitamin C in lowering the risk of CVD death.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; beta Carotene; Cardiovascular Diseases; Carotenoids; Cohort Studies; Diet; Feeding Behavior; Humans; Male; Netherlands; Tocopherols

Individual plasma carotenoids have been associated with various chronic diseases but little is known about the relationship between total plasma carotenoids and risk factors for chronic diseases. In the Physicians' Health Study, we examined 492 men free of CVD and cancer for the relationship between total plasma carotenoids (the sum of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, zeaxanthin, lutein and beta-cryptoxanthin) and a wide variety of factors that predict chronic disease. Multivariate linear and logistic regression was performed to calculate parameter estimates (95% CI) and OR (95% CI) for total plasma carotenoids. In linear regression models, BMI, hypertension, alcohol intake and plasma levels of each lipid parameter and a-tocopherol significantly predicted levels of total plasma carotenoids. Upon adjustment for multiple chronic disease risk factors, the OR for levels of total plasma carotenoids greater than or equal to the median (> or=1.301 micromol/l) was statistically significant for current smoking (OR 0.21; 95% CI 0.06, 0.77), weekly alcohol ingestion (OR 2.30; 95% CI 1.06, 4.99), daily alcohol ingestion (OR 2.46; 95% CI 1.29, 4.67), each 100 mg/l increase in total cholesterol (OR 0.73; 95% CI 0.58, 0.91), LDL-cholesterol (OR 1.48; 95% CI 1.17, 1.89) and HDL-cholesterol (OR 1.58; 95% CI 1.26, 1.99), each 100 mg/ml increase in intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (OR 0.70; 95% CI 0.53, 0.93) and each 10 micromol/l increase in alpha-tocopherol (OR 1.33; 95% CI 1.12, 1.57), using logistic regression. Few lifestyle and clinical risk factors appear to be related to levels of total plasma carotenoids; however, levels of biomarkers such as plasma lipids and alpha-tocopherol may be strongly related.

Topics: Aged; Alcohol Drinking; alpha-Tocopherol; beta Carotene; Cardiovascular Diseases; Carotenoids; Cholesterol; Chronic Disease; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cryptoxanthins; Humans; Life Style; Logistic Models; Lutein; Lycopene; Male; Middle Aged; Risk; Risk Factors; Smoking; Vitamins; Xanthophylls; Zeaxanthins

Some observational epidemiologic studies suggest that dietary and serum carotenoids are associated with reduced cardiovascular disease mortality.. Three thousand and sixty-one subjects (1,190 males and 1,871 females), aged 39 to 80 years, were recruited from residents of Hokkaido, Japan who had attended comprehensive health check-up programs from 1988 through 1995. Serum levels of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and lycopene were separately determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Serum levels of total carotene consisted of the sum of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and lycopene levels. Each serum level of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, total carotene, triglyceride, and alanine transaminase (ALT) activity was transformed logarithmically. The hazard ratios of serum alpha- and beta-carotenes, lycopene, and total carotene values were estimated by the Cox proportional hazard model after adjusting for sex, age, and other potential confounding factors.. During the 11.9-year follow-up period, 80 deaths (49 males and 31 females) from cardiovascular disease, 40 deaths from heart disease, and 37 deaths from stroke were identified among the cohort subjects. High serum values of carotenoids such as alpha- and beta-carotenes, and lycopene were found to be significantly associated with low hazard ratios for cardiovascular disease mortality. However, a significant inverse association between high serum lycopene value and the risk for stroke mortality was not always observed.. High serum levels of total carotene, comprising alpha- and beta-carotenes and lycopene, may reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease mortality among the Japanese population.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Analysis of Variance; beta Carotene; Cardiovascular Diseases; Carotenoids; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Japan; Lycopene; Male; Middle Aged; Proportional Hazards Models

Several large epidemiological studies have shown a correlation between elevated plasma carotenoid levels and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). One proposed mechanism for the beneficial effect of carotenoids is through functional modulation of potentially atherogenic processes associated with the vascular endothelium. To test this, we incubated confluent human aortic endothelial cell (HAEC) cultures (passages 4-8) for 24 h with each of the five most prevalent carotenoids in human plasma, which are alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein, and lycopene, at an approximate concentration of 1 micromol/l. Carotenoids were solubilized in 0.7% (v/v) tetrahydrofuran and incorporated into FBS before adding to cell culture medium. Due to disparate solubilities in aqueous medium, final concentrations of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein, and lycopene were 1.7, 1.1, 0.7, 0.9, and 0.3 micromol/l and monolayers accumulated 647, 158, 7, 113, and 9 pmol/mg protein, respectively. Monolayers were then stimulated with IL-1beta (5 ng/ml) for 6 h with subsequent determination of cell surface expression of adhesion molecules as measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). To assess endothelial cell adhesion to monocytes, IL-1beta-stimulated monolayers were incubated for 10 min with 51Cr-labeled U937 monocytic cells and adhesion determined by isotope counting. Pre-incubation of HAEC with beta-carotene, lutein and lycopene significantly reduced VCAM-1 expression by 29, 28, and 13%, respectively. Pre-incubation with beta-carotene and lutein significantly reduced E-selectin expression by 38 and 34%, respectively. Pre-treatment with beta-carotene, lutein and lycopene significantly reduced the expression of ICAM-1 by 11, 14, and 18%, respectively. While other carotenoids were ineffective, lycopene attenuated both IL-1beta-stimulated and spontaneous HAEC adhesion to U937 monocytic cells by 20 and 25%, respectively. Thus, among the carotenoids, lycopene appears to be most effective in reducing both HAEC adhesion to monocytes and expression of adhesion molecules on the cell surface.

Topics: Anticarcinogenic Agents; Antioxidants; Aorta, Thoracic; beta Carotene; Cardiovascular Diseases; Carotenoids; Cell Adhesion; Cell Adhesion Molecules; Cryptoxanthins; Culture Media; E-Selectin; Endothelium, Vascular; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Humans; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; Interleukin-1; Lutein; Lycopene; Monocytes; U937 Cells; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; Xanthophylls