Effect of mixed carotenoid vs. single carotenoid supplementation on lipid peroxidation in post‐menopausal women

The effects of supplements containing individual vs. mixed carotenoids on oxidative stress were determined. Healthy, post‐menopausal women (n=37, 50‐70 yrs) were assigned to one of five groups to be supplemented with either placebo, mixed carotenoids (a combination of β‐carotene, lutein and lycopene at 4 mg/d each) or 12 mg/d of single carotenoid (β‐carotene, lutein or lycopene) in this double blind placebo‐controlled randomized study. Plasma fat‐& water‐soluble antioxidants were analyzed by HPLC‐UVD & ‐ECD, respectively; total antioxidant capacity by fluorometry; lipid peroxidation by malondialdehyde using a HPLC and by total hydroxyoctadecadienoic acids (tHODE) using a GC/MS. Although the individual carotenoid supplemented (12 mg/d) groups showed a significant increase in plasma concentration of each carotenoid supplemented (p<0.05), no significant change in any biomarker of antioxidant activity or lipid peroxidation was observed. The mixed carotenoid group showed a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation at one of two time points during treatment, as determined by linoleic acid‐adjusted tHODE (p<0.05), while the placebo group showed an increase in cholesterol‐adjusted 7‐hydroxycholesterol (p<0.05) at both time treatment points. The current study indicates oxidative stress can be modestly modulated by either a single or a mixed carotenoid supplement and whether the mixed carotenoids have an advantage remains an open question. (Supported by USDA # 58‐1950‐7‐707 & BASF Ag, Germany)