beta-carotene and Glucose-Intolerance

β-Carotene (BC), a substitute for vitamin A, is widely used for its benefits. The present study investigates whether in-utero BC administration can alter lipid and glucose homoeostasis in offspring.. Maternal supplementation with BC disturbs lipid metabolism and induces glucose intolerance in F1 female mice, suggesting that BC supplementation during pregnancy should be used with caution.

Topics: Adipokines; Animals; beta Carotene; Dietary Supplements; DNA Methylation; Estradiol; Female; Glucose; Glucose Intolerance; Homeostasis; Insulin; Lipid Metabolism; Liver; Male; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Pregnancy; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Retinoid X Receptor beta; Testosterone

To investigate the association of serum concentrations and dietary intake of beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol with type 2 diabetes incidence.. Serum beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol, lifestyle factors (BMI, physical activity and smoking) and metabolic factors (insulin sensitivity [homeostasis model assessment], acute insulin response and impaired fasting glucose) were analysed in 846 50-year-old non-diabetic Swedish men (participants in the Uppsala Longitudinal Study of Adult Men). Diabetes was identified in 245 participants at reinvestigations after 10, 20 and 27 years. At the 20 year reinvestigation, dietary intake of beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol, insulin sensitivity (euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp) and insulin secretion (early insulin response in OGTT) were determined.. The highest tertile of serum beta-carotene at age 50 (>0.335 mumol/l) was associated with 59% lower risk of diabetes during follow-up compared with the lowest tertile (<0.210 mumol/l) after adjustment for lifestyle and metabolic factors (p < 0.01). The highest tertile of lipid-corrected serum alpha-tocopherol at age 50 (>3.67 mumol/mmol) was associated with 46% lower risk of diabetes compared with the lowest tertile (<3.25 mumol/mmol) independently of metabolic factors (p < 0.05). Moreover, lower serum beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol concentrations were independently associated with impaired insulin sensitivity (p < 0.001), but not with early insulin response, in a subsample of non-diabetic individuals 20 years later. Dietary intake of beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol independently predicted type 2 diabetes during 7 years of follow-up.. Serum concentrations and dietary intakes of beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol independently predicted insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes incidence during 27 years of follow-up in a community-based study of men. This result supports the importance of impaired antioxidant status for the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

Topics: Adult; Aged; alpha-Tocopherol; beta Carotene; Blood Glucose; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Diet; Exercise; Follow-Up Studies; Glucose Intolerance; Humans; Life Style; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Smoking; Sweden

Little is known about carotenoids, a diverse group of plant compounds with antioxidant activity, and their association with diabetes, a condition characterized by oxidative stress. Data from phase I of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1991) were used to examine concentrations of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, cryptoxanthin, lutein/zeaxanthin, and lycopene in 40- to 74-year-old persons with a normal glucose tolerance (n = 1,010), impaired glucose tolerance (n = 277), newly diagnosed diabetes (n = 148), and previously diagnosed diabetes (n = 230) based on World Health Organization criteria. After adjustment for age, sex, race, education, serum cotinine, serum cholesterol, body mass index, physical activity, alcohol consumption, vitamin use, and carotene and energy intake, geometric means of beta-carotene were 0.363, 0.316, and 0.290 micromol/liter for persons with a normal glucose tolerance, impaired glucose tolerance, and newly diagnosed diabetes, respectively (p = 0.004 for linear trend), and geometric means for serum lycopene were 0.277, 0.259, and 0.231 micromol/liter, respectively (p = 0.044 for linear trend). All serum carotenoids were inversely related to fasting serum insulin after adjustment for confounders (p < 0.05 for each carotenoid). If confirmed, these data suggest new opportunities for research that include exploring a possible role for carotenoids in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and diabetes.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antioxidants; beta Carotene; Carotenoids; Case-Control Studies; Cryptoxanthins; Diabetes Mellitus; Female; Glucose Intolerance; Glucose Tolerance Test; Humans; Lutein; Lycopene; Male; Middle Aged; Nutrition Surveys; Regression Analysis; United States; Xanthophylls