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Serum carotenoids as a biomarker for carotenoid concentrations in the brain
Author(s) -
Johnson Elizabeth J.,
Vishwanathan Rohini,
Scott Tammy M,
Schalch Wolfgang,
Wittwer Jonas,
Hausman Dorothy B,
Davey Adam,
Johnson Mary Ann,
Green Robert C,
Gearing Marla,
Poon Leonard W
Publication year - 2011
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.25.1_supplement.344.2
Subject(s) - lutein , zeaxanthin , carotenoid , lycopene , xanthophyll , biomarker , medicine , endocrinology , chemistry , biochemistry
Carotenoids, specifically lutein and zeaxanthin, cross the blood brain barrier to form macular pigment in the eye. Macular pigment has been related to serum lutein and zeaxanthin. Lutein supplementation was shown to improve cognitive function in older adults possibly due to increase in brain lutein. The objective was to evaluate if serum carotenoids are related to brain carotenoids in older adults. Brain tissues (cerebellum, temporal, frontal and occipital cortices) from decedents older than 98 years who had participated in the Georgia Centenarian Study were used. Subjects (n=49) had agreed to donate their brain after death. Serum and brains were extracted and analyzed using RP‐HPLC. Age‐adjusted partial correlation was done using SPSS. P values < 0.05 were considered significant. Among all the carotenoids and in all sampled brain regions, lutein concentrations were the highest (P< 0.0001). Serum lutein, zeaxanthin, cryptoxanthin, lycopene and β‐carotene were positively associated with brain lutein (0.283, P <0.0001), zeaxanthin (0.503, P < 0.0001), cryptoxanthin (0.468, P <0.0001), lycopene (0.348, P <0.0001) and β‐carotene (0.515, P <0.0001), respectively in all regions of the brain combined. Serum carotenoid concentrations can be used as a biomarker to predict brain carotenoid concentrations. Support:USDA#581950‐7‐07; DSM, NIH 1P01‐AG17553 (L. Poon, PI)