Carotenoids May Benefit Heart Health, Blood Sugar Levels 32288

Carotenoids May Benefit Heart Health, Blood Sugar Levels

BOSTON--Research published in the June American Journal ofClinical Nutrition (www.ajcn.org)highlighted the benefits of carotenoid intake on heart health and blood sugarlevels. In one study, researchers from Harvard researched the role ofcarotenoids in coronary artery disease (CAD) since previous studies had shownhigher intakes or higher blood concentrations of carotenoids were associatedwith lower disease risk (77:1390-9, 2003).

Using food frequency questionnaires completed by approximately 73,000 femalenurses, researchers assessed the nurses' consumption of carotenoids and variousother nutrients. During the 12-year follow-up, researchers identified 998 casesof CAD. After adjusting for age, smoking and other CAD risk factors, theyobserved a modest but significant inverse association between the highestquintiles of intake of beta-carotene. They noted, thought, that there was nosignificant heart benefit seen with intakes of lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene orbeta-cryptoxanthin.

In another study conducted, this time by researchers out of Finland, the roleof carotenoids (beta-carotene, lycopene) and other antioxidants (vitamin E) wereinvestigated for Type II diabetes (77:1434-41, 2003).

The study involved 81 male and 101 female first- and second-degree,nondiabetic relatives of patients with Type II diabetes. Subjects takingsupplements containing beta-carotene or vitamin E were excluded.

In men, dietary carotenoid intake was inversely associated with fastingplasma glucose concentrations, plasma beta-carotene concentrations wereinversely associated with insulin resistance and dietary lycopene was directlyrelated to baseline serum concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids. In women,however, dietary vitamin E and plasma beta-carotene concentrations wereinversely and directly associated, respectively, with fasting plasma glucoseconcentrations. The Finnish researchers concluded this data suggests carotenoidsmay be beneficial for glucose metabolism in men at high risk of Type IIdiabetes.