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Low Plasma Carotene Concentrations Are Associated with an Increased Risk of Acute Coronary Syndrome in a Korean Population
Author(s) -
So Jisun,
Walker Maura E,
Matthan Nirupa R,
Lichtenstein Alice H,
Han Sung Nim,
Chung IckMo,
Johnson Elizabeth J
Publication year - 2017
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.31.1_supplement.635.3
Subject(s) - medicine , carotenoid , waist , zeaxanthin , lycopene , lutein , myocardial infarction , unstable angina , acute coronary syndrome , odds ratio , population , carotene , endocrinology , gastroenterology , body mass index , chemistry , food science , environmental health
Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) includes acute myocardial infarction and unstable angina, which are manifestations of coronary atherosclerosis. Circulating concentrations of carotenoids have been suggested to exert a protective effect in the development of coronary heart disease. We investigated whether plasma carotenoids – xanthophylls (lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta‐cryptoxanthin) and carotenes (alpha‐carotene, beta‐carotene, and lycopene) – were related to the risk of developing ACS in middle‐aged Korean adults. Included were 30 subjects diagnosed with ACS (cases) and 30 age‐ and sex‐matched control subjects. Plasma concentrations of carotenoids were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. The odds ratio (OR) of each plasma carotenoid was estimated by a logistic regression model adjusted for waist circumference. Compared to the controls, the cases had a significantly greater waist circumference (85.0 ± 8.6 cm vs. 80.6 ± 8.3 cm; p < 0.05) and lower HDL cholesterol concentration (45.9 ± 11.9 vs. 51.6 ± 11.7 mg/dl; p < 0.05). Plasma concentrations of carotenes, but not xanthophylls, were significantly lower in the cases as compared with controls (alpha‐carotene: 0.11 ± 0.05 vs. 0.17 ± 0.18 umol/l, p < 0.05; beta‐carotene: 1.00 ± 0.62 vs. 1.54 ± 0.88 umol/l, p < 0.05; lycopene: 0.21 ± 0.16 vs. 0.62 ± 0.39 umol/l, p < 0.001). After adjusting for waist circumference, plasma concentrations of beta‐carotene (OR = 0.92, 95% CI 0.85–0.99; p = 0.025) and lycopene (OR = 0.57, 95% CI 0.42–0.79; p < 0.001) were associated with lower risk of ACS. No significant association with the risk of ACS was observed for plasma xanthophyll concentrations. This study provides evidence for inverse associations between plasma beta‐carotene and lycopene and the risk of developing ACS, suggesting that consumption of fruits and vegetables (especially, carrots, winter squash, tomatoes) may play a protective role in the development of ACS in the Korean population. Support or Funding Information This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (NRF‐2012R1A1A2008597) and USDA 1950‐51000‐087.