Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T06:05:46.978Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Serum concentrations of carotenoids and vitamins A, E, and C in control subjects from five European countries

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Begoña Olmedilla ,
Fernando Granado ,
Susan Southon ,
Anthony J. A. Wright ,
Inmaculada Blanco ,
Enrique Gil-Martinez ,
Henk van den Berg ,
Bernice Corridan ,
Anne-Marie Roussel  and
Mridula Chopra
...Show all authors
Begoña Olmedilla*
Affiliation:
Clinica Puerta de Hierro, 28035-Madrid, Spain
Fernando Granado
Affiliation:
Clinica Puerta de Hierro, 28035-Madrid, Spain
Susan Southon
Affiliation:
Institute of Food Research, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UA, UK
Anthony J. A. Wright
Affiliation:
Institute of Food Research, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UA, UK
Inmaculada Blanco
Affiliation:
Clinica Puerta de Hierro, 28035-Madrid, Spain
Enrique Gil-Martinez
Affiliation:
Clinica Puerta de Hierro, 28035-Madrid, Spain
Henk van den Berg
Affiliation:
TNO Nutrition and Food Research Institute, 3700-Zeist, The Netherlands
Bernice Corridan
Affiliation:
University College Cork, Cork, Republic of Ireland
Anne-Marie Roussel
Affiliation:
UFR des Sciences, Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, 38700-La Tronche, France
Mridula Chopra
Affiliation:
University of Ulster at Coleraine, Coleraine BT52 1SA, UK
David I. Thurnham
Affiliation:
University of Ulster at Coleraine, Coleraine BT52 1SA, UK
*
*Corresponding author: Dr B. Olmedilla, fax + 34 91 373 7667, email: [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

High intakes of fruits and vegetables, or high circulating levels of their biomarkers (carotenoids, vitamins C and E), have been associated with a relatively low incidence of cardiovascular disease, cataract and cancer. Exposure to a high fruit and vegetable diet increases antioxidant concentrations in blood and body tissues, and potentially protects against oxidative damage to cells and tissues. This paper describes blood concentrations of carotenoids, tocopherols, ascorbic acid and retinol in well-defined groups of healthy, non-smokers, aged 25–45 years, 175 men and 174 women from five European countries (France, UK (Northern Ireland), Republic of Ireland, The Netherlands and Spain). Analysis was centralised and performed within 18 months. Within-gender, vitamin C showed no significant differences between centres. Females in France, Republic of Ireland and Spain had significantly higher plasma vitamin C concentrations than their male counterparts. Serum retinol and α-tocopherol levels were similar between centres, but γ-tocopherol showed a great variability being the lowest in Spain and France, and the highest in The Netherlands. The provitamin A: non-provitamin A carotenoid ratio was similar among countries, whereas the xanthophylls (lutein, zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin) to carotenes (α-carotene, β-carotene, lycopene) ratio was double in southern (Spain) compared to the northern areas (Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland). Serum concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin were highest in France and Spain; β-cryptoxanthin was highest in Spain and The Netherlands; trans-lycopene tended to be highest in Irish males and lowest in Spanish males; α-carotene and β-carotene were higher in the French volunteers. Due to the study design, the concentrations of carotenoids and vitamins A, C and E represent physiological ranges achievable by dietary means and may be considered as ‘reference values’ in serum of healthy, non-smoking middle-aged subjects from five European countries. The results suggest that lutein (and zeaxanthin), β-cryptoxanthin, total xanthophylls and γ-tocopherol (and α- : γ-tocopherol) may be important markers related to the healthy or protective effects of the Mediterranean-like diet.

Keywords

CarotenoidsVitamins-TocopherolEuropean control subjects
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 85 , Issue 2 , February 2001 , pp. 227 - 238
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2001

References

Acheson, RM & Williams, DRR (1983) Does consumption of fruit and vegetables protect against stroke?. Lancet 1, 1191–1193.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Agudo, A, Amiano, P, Barcos, A, Barricarte, A, Beguiristain, JM, Chirlaque, MD, Dorronsoro, M, González, CA, Martínez, C, Navarro, C, Pera, G, Quirós, JR, Rodriguez, M, Tormo, MJ & (1999) Dietary intake of vegetables and fruits among adults in five regions of Spain. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 53, 174–180.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Armstrong, BK, Mann, JL, Adelstein, AM & Eskin, F (1975) Commodity consumption and ischemic heart disease mortality, with special reference to dietary practices. Journal of Chronic Diseases 28, 455–469.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ascherio, A, Rimm, EB, Hernán, M, Giovannucci, E, Kawachi, I, Stampfer, M & Willet, W (1999) Relation of consumption of vitamin E, vitamin C and carotenoids to risk for stroke among men in the United States. Annals of Internal Medicine 130, 963–970.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Azzi, A, Boscoboinik, D, Marilley, D, Ozer, NK, Stäube, B & Tasinato, A (1995) Vitamin E: A sensor and an information transducer of the cell oxidation state. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 62 Suppl. 6, 1337S–1347S.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Batieha, AM, Armenian, HK, Norkus, EP, Morris, JS, Spate, VE & Comstock, GW (1993) Serum micronutrients and the subsequent risk of cervical cancer in a population–based nested case–control study. Cancer, Epidemiology and Biomarkers Prevention 2, 335–339.Google Scholar
Bellizi, MC, Franklin, MF, Duthie, GG & James, WPT (1994) Vitamin E and coronary heart disease: The European paradox. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 48, 822–831.Google Scholar
Bertram, JS & Bortkiewicz, H (1995) Dietary carotenoids inhibit neoplastic transformation and modulate gene expression in mouse and human cells. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 62 Suppl. 6, 1327S–1337S.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Carr, AC & Frei, B (1999) Toward a new recommended dietary allowance for vitamin C based on antioxidant and health effects in humans. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 69, 1086–1107.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Castenmiller, JJM & West, C (1998) Bioavailability and bioconversion of carotenoids. Annual Review of Nutrition 18, 19–39.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chambless, L, Keil, U, Dobson, A, Mähonen, M, Kuulasmaa, K, Rajakangas, AM, Löwel, H, Tunstall–Pedoe, H for the WHO MONICA Project (1997) Population versus clinical view of case fatality from acute coronary heart disease. Results from the WHO MONICA Project 1985–1990. Circulation 96, 3849–3859.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Christen, S, Woodall, AA, Shigenaga, MK, Southwell–Keely, PT, Duncan, MW & Ames, BN (1997) γ–Tocopherol traps mutagenic electrophiles such as NOx and complements α–tocopherol: physiological implications. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA 94, 3217–3222.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Connett, JE, Kuller, LH, Kjelsberg, MO, Polk, BF, Collins, G, Rider, A & Hulley, SB (1989) Relationship between carotenoids and cancer. The multiple risk factor intervention trial (MRFIT) study. Cancer 64, 126–134.3.0.CO;2-H>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Finglas, PM, Bailey, A, Walker, A, Loughridge, JM, Wright, AJA & Southon, S (1993) Vitamin C intake and plasma ascorbic acid concentration in adolescents. British Journal of Nutrition 69, 563–576.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gartner, Ch, Stahl, W & Sies, H (1997) Lycopene is more bioavailable from tomato paste than from fresh tomatoes. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 66, 116–122.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gey, KF, Stahelin, HB & Eichholzer, M (1993) Poor plasma status of carotene and vitamin C is associated with higher mortality from ischemic heart disease and stroke: Basel study. Clinical Investigation 71, 3–6.Google Scholar
Gibson, RS (1990) Principles of Nutritional Assessment. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Giovannucci, E, Ascherio, A, Rimm, EB, Stampfer, MJ, Colditz, GA & Willett, WC (1995) Intake of carotenoids and retinol in relation to risk of prostate cancer. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 87, 1767–1776.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Granado, F, Olmedilla, B, Blanco, I and Rojas–Hidalgo, E (1996) Major fruit and vegetables contributors to the main serum carotenoids in Spanish diet. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 50, 246–250.Google Scholar
Granado, F, Olmedilla, B, Gil–Martinez, E & Blanco, I (1998) Lutein ester in serum after lutein supplementation in humans. British Journal of Nutrition 5, 80, 445–450.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hercberg, S, Preziosi, P & Galán, P (1994) Vitamin status of a healthy French population: Dietary intakes and biochemical markers. International Journal of Vitamin and Nutrition Research 64, 220–232.Google ScholarPubMed
Howard, AN, Williams, NR, Palmer, CR, Cambou, JP, Evans, AE, Foote, JW, Marques–Vidal, P, McCrum, EE, Ruidavests, JB, Nigdikar, SV, Rajput–Williams, J & Thurnham, DI (1996) Do hydroxy–carotenoids prevent coronary heart disease? A comparison between Belfast and Toulouse. International Journal of Vitamin and Nutrition Research 66, 113–118.Google ScholarPubMed
Iribarren, C, Folsom, AR, Jacobs, DR, Gross, MD, Belcher, JD & Eckfeldt, JH (1997) Association of serum vitamins levels, LDL susceptibility to oxidation and autoantibodies against MDA–LDL with carotid atherosclerosis: a case–control study. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology 17, 1171–1177.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jacques, PF, Chylack, LT, McGandy, RB & Hartz, SC (1988) Antioxidant status in persons with and without senile cataract. Archives of Ophthalmology 106, 337–340.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
James, WPT, Duthie, GG & Wahle, KWJ (1989) The Mediterranean diet: Protective or simply non–toxic?. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 43 Suppl. 2, 31–41.Google ScholarPubMed
Kardinaal, AFM, Kok, JF, Ringstad, K, Gómez–Aracena, J, Kohlmeier, L, Martín, BC, Aro, A, Kark, JD, Delgado–Rodriguez, M, Riemrsma, RA, Van't Veer, P, Huttunen, JK & Martin–Moreno, JM (1993) Antioxidants in adipose tissue and risk of myocardial infarction: the EURAMIC Study. Lancet 342, 1379–1384.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Khachik, F, Beecher, GR, Goli, MB, Lusby, WR & Smith, JC (1992) Separation and identification of carotenoids and their oxidation products in the extracts of human plasma. Analytical Chemistry 64, 2111–2122.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Knekt, P, Heliovaara, M, Rissanen, A, Aromaa, A & Aaran, R–K (1992) Serum antioxidant vitamins and risk of cataract. British Medical Journal 305, 1392–1394.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Knekt, P, Reunanen, A, Jarvinen, R, Seppanan, R, Heliovaara, M & Aromaa, A (1994) Antioxidant vitamin intakes and coronary mortality in a longitudinal population study. American Journal of Epidemiology 139, 1180–1189.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kushi, LH (1999) Vitamin E and heart disease: A case study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 69 Suppl., 1322S–1329S.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Le #Marchand, L, Yoshizawa, CN, Kolonel, LN, Hankin, JH & Goodman, MT (1989) Vegetable consumption and lung cancer risk: A population–based case–control study in Hawaii. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 81, 1158–1164.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Levine, M, Conry–Cantilena, C & Wang, Y (1996) Vitamin C pharmaco–kinetics in healthy volunteers: evidence for a recommended dietary allowance. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA 93, 3704–3709.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mares–Perlman, JA, Brady, WE, Klein, R, Klein, BE, Bowen, P, Stacewicz–Sapuntzakis, M & Palta, M (1995) Serum antioxidants and age–related macular degeneration in a population–based case–control study. Archives of Ophthalmology 113, 1518–1523.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Maiani, G, Raguzzini, A, Mobarhan, S & Ferro–Luzzi, A (1993) Vitamin A. International Journal of Vitamin and Nutrition Research 63, 252–257.Google ScholarPubMed
Morris, DL, Kritchevsky, SB & Davis, CE (1994) Serum carotenoids and coronary heart disease – The lipid research clinics coronary primary prevention trial and follow–up study. Journal American Association 272, 1439–1441.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Morrisey, PA, Sheehy, PJA & Gaynor, P (1993) Vitamin E. International Journal of Vitamin and Nutrition Research 63, 260–264.Google Scholar
Nierenberg, DW, Stukel, TA, Baron, JA, Dain, BJ & Greenberg, ER (1989) The skin cancer prevention study group: Determinants of plasma levels of β–carotene and retinol. American Journal of Epidemiology 130, 511–521.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Öhrvall, M, Sundlöf, G & Vessby, B (1996) Gamma, but not alpha, tocopherol levels in serum are reduced in coronary heart disease patients. Journal of Internal Medicine 239, 111–117.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Olmedilla, B, Granado, F, Blanco, I and Rojas–Hidalgo, E (1994) Seasonal and sex–related variations in six serum carotenoids, retinol and α–tocopherol. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 60, 106–110.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Olmedilla, B, Granado, F, Gil–Martínez, E, Blanco, I & Rojas–Hidalgo, E (1997) Reference values for retinol, tocopherol and main carotenoids in serum of control and insulin–dependent diabetic Spanish subjects. Clinical Chemistry 43, 1066–1071.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Parker, R (1997) Bioavailability of carotenoids. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 51 Suppl.1, S86–S90.Google ScholarPubMed
Riboli, E, Péquignot, G, Repetto, F, Axerio, M, Raymond, L, Boffetta, P, Zubiri, A, del Moral, A, Esteve, J & Tuyns, AJ (1988) A comparative study of smoking, drinking and dietary habits in population samples in France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland I. Study design and dietary habits. Reviste Epidemiologique et Santé Publique 36, 151–156.Google ScholarPubMed
Scott, KJ, Thurnham, DI, Hart, DJ & Bingham, SA (1994) The correlation between intake of lutein, lycopene and β–carotene from vegetables and fruits and concentrations in blood plasma. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 53, 138A.Google Scholar
Seddon, JM, Ajani, UA, Sperduto, RD, Hiller, R, Blair, N, Burton, TC, Farber, MD, Gragoudas, ES, Haller, J, Miller, DT, Yannuzzi, LA & Willett, W (1994) Dietary carotenoids, vitamins A, C and E and age–related macular degeneration. Eye disease case–control study group. Journal of American Dietetic Association 272, 1413–1420.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sharpless, D & Duewer, DL (1995) Population distributions and intralaboratory reproducibility for fat–soluble vitamin–related compounds in human serum. Analytical Chemistry 67, 4416–4422.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sies, H, Stahl, W & Sundquist, A (1992) Antioxidant functions of vitamins: Vitamins E and C, β–carotene and other carotenoids. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 669, 7–21.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stahl, W, Sundquist, AR, Hanusch, M, Schwarz, W & Sies, H (1993) Separation of β–carotene and lycopene geometrical isomers in biological samples. Clinical Chemistry 39, 810–814.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thurnham, DI, Davies, JA, Crump, BJ, Situnayake, RD & Davis, M (1986) The use of different lipids to express serum tocopherol:lipid ratios for the measurement of vitamin E status. Annals of Clinical Biochemistry 23, 514–520.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thurnham, DI, Northrop–Clewes, CA & Chopra, M (1998) Biomarkers of vegetable and fruit intakes. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 68, 756–757.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tunstall–Pedoe, H, Kuulasmaa, K, Mähonen, M, Tolonen, H, Ruokokoski, E, Amouyel, P for the WHO MONICA (1999) Contribution of trends in survival and coronary–events rates to changes in coronary heart disease mortality: 10–year results from 37 WHO MONICA Project populations. Lancet 353, 1547–1557.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
van den #Berg, H, Heseker, H, Lamand, M, Sandström, B & Thurnham, D (1993) Flair Concerted Action No 10 Status Papers: introduction, conclusions and recommendations. International Journal of Vitamin and Nutrition Research 63, 247–251.Google Scholar
Wald, NJ, Thompson, SG, Densem, JW, Boreham, J & Bailey, A (1988) Serum beta–carotene and subsequent risk of cancer: Results from the BUPA study. British Journal of Cancer 57, 428–433.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
WCRF & AICR (World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research) (1997) Food, Nutrition and the Prevention of Cancer: A Global Perspective 43. p. 43. Washington: WCRF/AICR.Google Scholar
You, Ch–S, Parker, RS & Goodman, KJ (1996) Evidence of cis-trans isomerization of 9-cis-β-carotene during absorption in humans. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 64, 177–183.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zheng, W, Sellers, TA, Doyle, TJ, Kushi, LH, Potter, JD & Folsom, AR (1995) Retinol, antioxidant vitamins and cancers of the upper digestive tract in a prospective cohort study of postmenopausal women. American Journal of Epidemiology 142, 955–960.CrossRefGoogle Scholar