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Serum carotenoids and vitamins in relation to markers of endothelial function and inflammation

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Abstract

Background: Endothelial cell dysfunction may be related to an increase in cellular oxidative stress. Carotenoids and vitamins could have an antioxidant-mediated tempering influence on endothelial function and inflammation, thereby reducing the risk of atherosclerosis. Methods: We measured serum carotenoids, α$-tocopherol and Vitamin C concentrations in 379 subjects sampled from the general population. High-sensitive C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen (Fbg) and leukocytes were measured as markers of inflammation. Furthermore, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD; n=165) were measured as markers of endothelial function. Relationships between serum carotenoids and vitamins and markers of endothelial function and inflammation were analysed after adjustment for confounding. Results: In the total study group, lutein and lycopene were inversely related to sICAM-1 with regression-coefficients of −0.38 $±$ 0.19 (p=0.04) and −0.16 $±$ 0.08 (p=0.04) per 1 μmol/l, respectively. $β$-Carotene was inverse related to leukocytes (−0.23 $±$ 0.07; p=0.007) and CRP (−1.09 ± 0.30; p=0.0003) per 1 $μ$mol/l. Vitamin C was inverse related to CRP (−0.01 $±$ 0.005; p=0.04) per 1 $μ$mol/l, whereas $α$-tocopherol was positively related to CRP (0.03 $±$ 0.01; p=0.02) per 1 $μ$/l. Zeaxanthin was inversely related to FMD (31.2 $±$ 15.3; p=0.04) per 1 $μ$mol/l. Conclusion: The inverse relations between carotenoids, Vitamin C and sICAM-1, CRP and leukocytes may help to explain the possible protective effect of carotenoids and Vitamin C on atherosclerosis through an influence on inflammatory processes and endothelial function.

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Author notes

  1. Wendy van Herpen-broekmans

    Present address: TNO Nutrition and Food Research, Wageningen University and Research Center, Wageningen

Authors and Affiliations

  1. TNO Nutrition and Food Research, Wageningen University and Research Center, Wageningen

    Ineke Klöpping-ketelaars, F.J. Hendriks & Alwine Kardinaal

  2. Wageningen University and Research Center, Wageningen

    Wendy van Herpen-broekmans

  3. Center for Micronutrient Research, Wageningen

    Wendy van Herpen-broekmans & Alwine Kardinaal

  4. Julius Center for General Practice and Patient Oriented Research, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht

    Bots Michiel

  5. Gaubius Laboratory TNO-PG, Leiden

    Kluft Cornelis & Princen Hans

  6. Unilever Health Institute, Unilever R&D, The Netherlands

    Lilian Tijburg & Geert van Poppel

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  1. Wendy van Herpen-broekmans
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van Herpen-broekmans, W., Klöpping-ketelaars, I., Michiel, B. et al. Serum carotenoids and vitamins in relation to markers of endothelial function and inflammation. Eur J Epidemiol 19, 915–921 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-004-5760-z

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