Plasma retinol and plasma and lipoprotein tocopherol and carotenoid concentrations in healthy elderly participants of the Framingham Heart Study

Abstract

80 y, are sparse. In the current study retinol, tocopherol (α-and γ-tocopherols), and carotenoid (lutein/zeaxanthin, cryptoxanthins, lycopene, and α- and β-carotene) concentrations were determined in 638 subjects, 230 men (aged 75 ± 5 y) and 408 women (76 ± 6 y), of the Framingham Heart Study. All subjects were free of clinical evidence of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Percentile ranges were comparable with those established in younger cohorts. Moreover, women had significantly higher plasma α-tocopherol and plasma and lipoprotein concentrations of β-cryptoxanthin and α- and β-carotene than did men. Lycopene concentrations were inversely correlated with age and lowest among subjects ≤ 80 y. Total intakes (diet + supplements) of vitamin C and vitamin E, but not dietary intakes alone, were positively associated with plasma α- tocopherol and inversely associated with γ-tocopherol concentrations. In multivariate analyses, plasma cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations and total intake of vitamins E and C predicted 64% and 55% of the plasma α- tocopherol concentrations in men and women, respectively. Important predictors for the majority of carotenoids included plasma cholesterol concentration, body mass index (negative effect), and smoking status (negative effect); for lycopene concentration they included cholesterol concentration and age (negative effect). In summary, percentile ranges and lipoprotein distributions were comparable with those established in younger cohorts, suggesting that overall antioxidant status is not altered in people between the ages of 67 and 96 y.