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Low total plasma carotenoids are independent predictors of mortality among women but not men: the InCHIANTI study
Author(s) -
DayhoffBrannigan Margaret Elaine,
Ble Alessandro,
Semba Richard D.,
Lauretani Fulvio,
Ray Amanda L.,
Bandinelli Stefania,
Guralnik Jack M.,
Ferrucci Luigi
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.5.lb95
Subject(s) - carotenoid , quartile , medicine , proportional hazards model , cohort , cohort study , gerontology , demography , confidence interval , food science , biology , sociology
Plasma carotenoids are considered the best biological marker for fruit and vegetable intake. Recent studies show that low carotenoid levels are associated with high risk of inflammation, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. The objective was to determine whether low plasma carotenoids are associated with increased mortality among older adults. A longitudinal study was conducted among 1030 adults, 65 years and older, in the InCHIANTI study, a population‐based cohort of adults living in the community. Mean total carotenoid concentration was 1.80 μmol/L. During six years of follow‐up, 213 (20.7%) of participants died, and mortality rates among women and men were 32/1000 and 45/1000 person‐years. Mean carotenoids in women and men were 1.88 (0.02) and 1.70 μmol/L, respectively ( P <0.0001). Six‐year survival was lower in lower quartiles compared with upper quartiles of total serum carotenoids among women ( P <0.0001) but not among men. In multivariate Cox models adjusting for age, education smoking, BMI, caloric intake, and chronic diseases, total carotenoids were associated with mortality (HR [per increase in SD] 0.72, 95% CI 0.55–0.94) among women but not men. These results suggest that low plasma carotenoids are an independent predictor of mortality among older women living in the community. Supported by NIA N01‐AG‐5‐0002, R01 AG027012.