P02.108
Purpose: To compare the in vivo effects of food- and dietary supplement-based mixed carotenoids on lipid-related risk factors and biomarkers of antioxidant status, oxidative stress, and inflammation.
Methods: A single masked, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed in 60 healthy adults who consumed less than 3.5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Participants were allocated to one of four groups: placebo, carotenoid meals, or one of two commercial mixed carotenoid dietary supplements (DS#1 and DS#2) for 30 days. The following parameters were measured in the fasting state at baseline and after 30-days of supplementation: serum carotenoid concentration, c-reactive protein (CRP), total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, oxidized LDL, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), f2-isoprostanes, and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT). Parameters were compared to placebo by unpaired, t-tests and between all groups by ANOVA. Pairwise testing with Tukey's test was performed for parameters in which p<0.05 by ANOVA. Serial 24-hour diet recalls were performed to ensure dietary consistency.
Results: Total serum carotenoids increased in all groups except placebo. Reductions in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol differed by group (p<0.05 ANOVA), with DS#1 and DS#2 showing greater reductions than food-based carotenoids; TC: −4.8 mg/dl and −11.2 mg/dl vs. +5.8 mg/dl, p=0.04 ANOVA; LDL: −7.3 mg/dl and −10.2 mg/dl vs. +4.6 mg/dl, p=0.002 ANOVA. oxLDL also reduced in all three carotenoid groups, without significant differences between groups (p=0.58 ANOVA). CRP, ORAC, f2-isoprostanes and GGT did not change within or between randomization groups.
Conclusion: Increasing serum carotenoid fractions in people who do not consume recommended intakes of fruits and vegetables modifies cardiovascular risk factors, including lipid-related risk, without altering antioxidant or inflammatory status. Dietary supplementation is an efficacious way to increase serum carotenoid status in healthy humans.
Contact: Ryan Bradley, drbradley.hip@gmail.com
