J Karppi1, S Kurl, J A Laukkanen, T H Rissanen, J Kauhanen. 1. Department of Medicine, Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland. jouni.karppi@uef.fi
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Several previous epidemiological studies have suggested that high plasma concentrations of carotenoids may slow the development of early atherosclerosis, but results have been inconclusive. METHODS: We examined the effect of carotenoids on early atherosclerosis in a population-based study. The association between plasma carotenoid concentrations and intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (CCA-IMT) was investigated in 1212 elderly men (aged 61-80 years) in Eastern Finland. They were examined by B-mode ultrasound to detect early signs of carotid atherosclerosis, and plasma concentrations of carotenoids were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Men in the lowest quartile of CCA-IMT had significantly higher concentrations of plasma β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene and α-carotene than men in the highest quartile (P for the differences: 0.043, 0.045 and 0.046, respectively), after adjustment for age, examination year, body mass index, smoking, alcohol intake, years of education, symptomatic coronary heart disease (CHD) or CHD history, diabetes, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, medications and season. The concentrations of plasma β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene and α-carotene decreased linearly with increasing CCA-IMT. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that high plasma concentrations of β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene and α-carotene may be associated with decreased carotid atherosclerosis in elderly men from eastern Finland.
BACKGROUND: Several previous epidemiological studies have suggested that high plasma concentrations of carotenoids may slow the development of early atherosclerosis, but results have been inconclusive. METHODS: We examined the effect of carotenoids on early atherosclerosis in a population-based study. The association between plasma carotenoid concentrations and intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (CCA-IMT) was investigated in 1212 elderly men (aged 61-80 years) in Eastern Finland. They were examined by B-mode ultrasound to detect early signs of carotid atherosclerosis, and plasma concentrations of carotenoids were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS:Men in the lowest quartile of CCA-IMT had significantly higher concentrations of plasma β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene and α-carotene than men in the highest quartile (P for the differences: 0.043, 0.045 and 0.046, respectively), after adjustment for age, examination year, body mass index, smoking, alcohol intake, years of education, symptomatic coronary heart disease (CHD) or CHD history, diabetes, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, medications and season. The concentrations of plasma β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene and α-carotene decreased linearly with increasing CCA-IMT. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that high plasma concentrations of β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene and α-carotene may be associated with decreased carotid atherosclerosis in elderly men from eastern Finland.
Authors: Mario Lorenz; Mandy Fechner; Janine Kalkowski; Kati Fröhlich; Anne Trautmann; Volker Böhm; Gerhard Liebisch; Stefan Lehneis; Gerd Schmitz; Antje Ludwig; Gert Baumann; Karl Stangl; Verena Stangl Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-01-25 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Ioana Mozos; Dana Stoian; Alexandru Caraba; Clemens Malainer; Jarosław O Horbańczuk; Atanas G Atanasov Journal: Front Pharmacol Date: 2018-05-23 Impact factor: 5.810