• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.42 no.5
• /
• pp.464-473
• /
• 2009

The serum levels of antioxidant materials (${\alpha}$-carotene, ${\beta}$-carotene, ${\beta}$-cryptoxanthin, lutein, lycopene, ${\alpha}$-tocopherol, ${\gamma}$-tocopherol, retinol) of the healthy Korean middle-aged adults (n = 373) were measured and their relationships with the serum lipids and anthropometric indices were analyzed. The serum levels of ${\beta}$-cryptoxanthin, ${\beta}$-carotene, lutein were higher than those of lycopene and ${\alpha}$-carotene. The levels of all measured carotenoids except lutein were significantly higher in females than in males, but retinol level was vice versa. There was a tendency of increase in serum levels of antioxidant vitamins with increasing age. The serum carotenoid levels had a positive correlation with serum cholesterol and a negative correlation with serum triglyceride. The serum levels of tocopherols or retinol showed a significantly positive relationship with blood cholesterol or triglyceride. In overall, anthropometric indices showed negative relations with serum carotenoids levels, but vice versa with serum tocopherol or retinol levels. Particularly, ${\beta}$-carotene and lutein levels showed a significantly negative relation with blood pressure in male subjects. The serum levels of ${\alpha}$-carotene, ${\beta}$-carotene and ${\beta}$-cryptoxanthin had significantly negative relations with body fat-related indices in female subjects. The results demonstrated that blood antioxidants levels differed by sex and age, and had significant relations with blood lipid levels and anthropometric indices. Therefore, the rationale and significance of the relationships need to be elucidated in the future study related to dietary intakes and life style.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.72-77
• /
• 2004

Diabetic vascular complications such as atherosclerosis have been reported as one of significant obstructions in treatment of diabetes. There has been a significant increase in recognition of the importance of antioxidative nutrients such as vitamin E, for the prevention of diabetic vascular complication by oxidative stress. This study focused on the effect of dietary $\beta$-carotene on the levels of lipid peroxide and antioxidative vitamins of diabetic rats. The plasma glucose level, hepatic level of lipid peroxide and contents of antioxidants such as vitamins A and E were determined in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Dietary supplementation of B-carotene did not reduce the blood glucose in diabetic rats. Hepatic level of lipid peroxide tended to increase in diabetic rats, but $\beta$-carotene intake reduced the value. Plasma levels of retinol and retinol/lipid were not changed by dietary supplementation of $\beta$-carotene. There was no significant difference among experimental groups in plasma level of $\alpha$-tocopherol. Hepatic levels of retionl and retinyl palmitate were increased by dietary supplementation of $\beta$-carotene in diabetic rats. These results suggest that the supplementation of $\beta$-carotene to the normal diet of diabetics may reduce the incidence of the diabetic vascular complications through the improvement of antioxidants depletion.

• Nutritional Sciences
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.61-69
• /
• 1998

Five hundred and seventy-eight healthy subjects (351 men and 227 women) with a mean age of 44.8 years (45.2 for men, 44.3 for women) participated in this study. The serum concentrations of $\alpha$-tocopherol, \beta$-carotene, $\alpha$-carotene, zeaxanthin + lutein, cryptoxanthin, lycopene and retinol of normal Koreans were measured, and their relation to gender, age, BMI, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, and menopausal status were evaluated. The concentrations of $\alpha$-tocopherol, carotenoids and retinol in serum were measured simultaneously by reverse phase HPLC (multi-wavelength, gradient and computerized automatic system). Average serum levels of $\alpha$-tocopherol, \beta$-carotene and retinol were 10.1$\pm$0.41\mu$g/dl, 33.1$\pm$1.24\mu$g/dl, and 82.0$\pm$1.63\mu$g/dl for men and 11.1$\pm$0.74\mu$g/ml, 48.1$\pm$1.60\mu$g/dl and 64.5$\pm$1.96\mu$g/dl for women, respectively, Serum concentrations of $\alpha$-tocopheol \beta$-carotene, $\alpha$-carotene, cryptoxanthin and lycopene appeared to be higher in women than in men. The serum concentrations of zeaxanthin + lutein increased with the increase in age of men and those of $\alpha$-carotene and \beta$-carotene increased with the increase in age of women. For men, current smokers showed significantly lower serum concentrations of \beta$-carotene and $\alpha$-carotene than ex-smokers (p <0.05) . Current drinkers also showed significantly lower serum \beta$-carotene and zeaxanthin + lutein concentrations than ex-drinkers. For women, current smokers showed significantly love. serum concentrations of zeaxanthin+lutein and cryptoxanthin than ex-smokes (p<0.05). Men with BMI$\geq$24 showed significantly lower serum concentrations of \beta$-carotene, $\alpha$-carotene, lycopene and cryptoxanthin than men with BMI < 20. The mean concentrations of $\alpha$-tocopherol, \beta$-carotene, $\alpha$-carotene and lycopene far postmenopausal women were higher than those for premenopausal women (p<0.05). In conclusion, there were obvious differences in serum $\alpha$-tocopherol and carotenoids levels depending on gender, age, cigarette-smoking habits, alcohol consumption, BMI and menopausal status. further studies are required to establish the normal levels of these vitamins for children and the elderly and to elucidate their roles in different disease states.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.7
• /
• pp.2981-2986
• /
• 2015

Background: Despite many epidemiological studies on the effects of dietary antioxidant micronutrients on risk of cervical cancer, the findings remain uncertain and little evidence is available for serum nutrient markers. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between serum carotenoid, retinol and tocopherol concentrations and risk of cervical cancer among Chinese women. Materials and Methods: We conducted a hospital-based case-control study in which 358 adults (158 incident cases and 200 controls) were recruited from Xinjiang, China. Serum levels of carotenoids (${\alpha}$-carotene, ${\beta}$-carotene, ${\beta}$-cryptoxanthin, lycopene and lutein/zeaxanthin), retinol, and tocopherols (${\alpha}$-tocopherol and ${\gamma}$-tocopherol) were assessed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: We found inverse associations between serum carotenoid (${\alpha}$-carotene, ${\beta}$-carotene, and lutein/zeaxanthin) and tocopherol (${\alpha}$-tocopherol) concentrations and the risk of cervical cancer after adjusting for potential confounders, but a null association for retinol. The ORs for 1-SD increase were 0.71 (95 % CI: 0.56-0.92; p=0.003) for total carotenoids and 0.75 (95 % CI: 0.60-0.94; p=0.008) for total tocopherols. Conclusions: These results show that higher serum concentrations of some carotenoids and tocopherols are associated with a lower risk of cervical cancer among Chinese women.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.81-86
• /
• 2002

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of vitamin A or $\beta$-carotene on oxidative damage induced by acute ethanol administration. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed on the experimental diets supplemented with retinyl acetate (2.86 mg/kg diet) or $\beta$-carotene (15.2 mg/kg diet) for 5 weeks. After fed the diet, rats were administered 20% ethanol solution (3g/kg B.W.) acutely. Lipid peroxide values in hepatic tissue, hepatic antioxidative enzyme activities and contents of antioxidative nutrient such as vitamins A and E in serum and hepatic tissue were measured. Hepatic level of malondialdehyde decreased in $\beta$-carotene group compared to the control group. However, there was no significant difference between retinal acetate and $\beta$-carotene groups. Superoxide dismutase activity was higher in retinal acetate group than in the control group. Hepatic glutathione-S-transferase activity of retinal acetate and $\beta$-carotene groups significantly decreased as compared with that of control group. The hepatic content of retinol increased in retinal acetate and $\beta$-carotene groups, especially, in retinyl acetate group. But there was no significant difference in serum content of retinol among the groups. Hepatic content of $\alpha$-tocopherol was significantly increased in retinyl acetate and $\beta$-carotene groups. In conclusion, acute ethanol administration might induce lipid peroxidation, and the dietary supplementation of retinyl acetate or $\beta$-carotene improve partly the antioxidative system through activation of superoxide dismutase and retention of hepatic $\alpha$-tocopherol in ethanol-treated rats.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.42 no.12
• /
• pp.1949-1957
• /
• 2013

The contents of ${\beta}$-carotene and retinol in processed and restaurant foods, such as Korean noodles, mandus, rice cakes and bread products, were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV/visible and fluorescence detector, respectively. Samples were collected from different local areas (i.e. Gangwon-do, Gyeonggi-do, Gyeongsang-do, Seoul, Jeolla-do, and Chungcheong-do). After homogenization, samples were hydrolyzed by direct alkali saponification; thereafter, fat-soluble components were extracted by a mixture of n-hexane/ethylacetate (85:15, v/v), containing 0.01% butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). ${\beta}$-carotene and retinol contents in infant formula used as an in-house material for the analytical quality control. Among 14 Korean noodles, high contents of ${\beta}$-carotene were found in Bibim-Guksu (average 442.43 ${\mu}g/100g$) and Jjolmyeon (average 301.39 ${\mu}g/100g$). In 4 Korean mandus, the highest contents of ${\beta}$-carotene was determined in Kimchi-mandu (average 197.64 ${\mu}g/100g$), resulting in 33.3 RE of the converted vitamin A. Among 12 Korean rice cakes, Maeun-Tteokbokki and Modm-Chaltteok contained relatively high content of ${\beta}$-carotene with 205.11 and 41.33 ${\mu}g/100g$, respectively, while retinol was detected only in Maeun- Tteokbokki (1.65~10.45 ${\mu}g/100g$). In addition, among 8 bread products, 77.3 RE of pastry, 51.2 RE of buttercream- bread, and 41.4 RE of morning roll were found as the contents of the converted vitamin A.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.45-50
• /
• 2012

Dietary intakes and plasma concentrations of retinol and carotenoids were estimated in assessing the vitamin A status of Korean adults living in Seoul and the metropolitan area. Three consecutive 24-h food recalls were collected from 106 healthy subjects (33 males and 73 females) aged 20-59 years. Fasting blood samples of the subjects were obtained and plasma retinol and carotenoids were analyzed. The daily vitamin A intakes ($mean{\pm}SD$) were $887.77{\pm}401.35{\mu}g $ retinol equivalents or $531.84{\pm}226.42{\mu}g$ retinol activity equivalents. There were no significant differences in vitamin A intakes among age groups. The retinol intake of subjects was $175.92{\pm}129.87{\mu}g/day$. The retinol intake of the subjects in their 50's was significantly lower than those in their 20's and 30's (P<0.05). Provitamin A carotenoid intakes were $3,828.37{\pm}2,196.29{\mu}g/day$ ${\beta}$-carotene, $472.57{\pm}316.68{\mu}g/day$ ${\alpha}$-carotene, and $412.83{\pm}306.46{\mu}g/day$ ${\beta}$-cryptoxanthin. Approximately 17% of the subjects consumed vitamin A less than the Korean Estimated Average Requirements for vitamin A. The plasma retinol concentration was $1.22{\pm}0.34{\mu}mol/L$. There was no significant difference in plasma retinol concentrations among age groups. However, the concentrations of ${\beta}$-carotene, lycopene, and lutein of subjects in their 50's were significantly higher than those of in their 20's. Only one subject had a plasma retinol concentration < $0.70{\mu}mol/L$ indicating marginal vitamin A status. Plasma retinol concentration in 30% of the subjects was 0.70- < $1.05{\mu}mol/L$, which is interpreted as the concentration possibly responsive to greater intake of vitamin A. In conclusion, dietary intakes and status of vitamin A were generally adequate in Korean adults examined in this study.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.460-467
• /
• 1997

The purpose of this study was to diagnose nutritional status of vitamin A in female university students. Total of 59 female students in Korea National University of Education, Home Economics Education department were recruited for this study. Retinol and :t major carotenoids in serum($\beta$-carotene, u-carotene, lycopene and lutein) were analyzed by HPLC. The isocratic separation was performed in a $\mu$ Bondapak$^{TM}$ $C_{18}$ stainless steel column with a solvent system of acetonitrile : methanol=85:15. The results of analysis were as follows: The average retinol concentration of 59 female students was 25.9$\mu\textrm{g}$/100$m\ell$. According to biochemical criteria for the assessment of vitamin A status, 18 of them belong to well-nourished and 6 students belong to adequate status. On the other hand, 8 students, 3 freshmen and 5 sophomore, were in critical vitamin A status. Retinol concentrations of junior and senior students were higher than those of freshmen and sophomore (P＜0.001). The average concentrations of serum $\beta$-carotene, lycopene, and lutein were 1.9, 5.4, and 41.4$\mu\textrm{g}$/100$m\ell$, respectively. Serum $\beta$-carotene concentration of senior was significant. higher than those of freshman, sophomore and junior(p＜0.001). Lycopene concentration of freshman was significant. lower than those of the other grades and that of senior was sig, higher than those of the other grades(p＜0.05). Lutein concentrations of junior and senior were significant. higher than those of freshman and sophomore(p＜0.001). The serum $\alpha$-carotene concentrations of the students were too low to analyze.e.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.30 no.8
• /
• pp.952-959
• /
• 1997

Korean intakes of Vitamin A have not reached RDA for a long time according to the National Nutrition Survey. The pupose of this study was to examine the serum response to short-term carotenoids-rich vegetable juices supplementation. A total of 31 female students were recruited for this study. Their average serum retinol content before supplementation began was 14.74$\mu\textrm{g}$/100ml, and 87% of them had lower than adequate levels. Serum $\beta$-carotene, $\alpha$-carotene, lycopene and lutein contents were 0.77, -, 0.74 and 8.29$\mu\textrm{g}$/100$m\ell$ respectively. The serum responses to 3 kinds of juice supplementation for 3 weeks are summarized as follows. A small but steady increase in serum retinol concentration was detected with the supplementation (p<.05), but the kinds of juice made no significant difference. Serum $\beta$-carotene contents also increased with the supplementation(p<.01), but the kinds of juice again made no significant difference. Serum lycopene increased with the lycopene-containing vegetable juice and tomato juice supplementation, but the increase wasn't significant. There was no change in serum lycopene levels with the lycopene free carrot juice supplementation. Finally, there were no signifnicant changes in serum lutein and $\alpha$-carotene levels with the 3 kinds of juice supplementation.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.301-311
• /
• 1985

Even though the anticarcinogenic effect of dietary factors especially beta - carotene has been reported by various investigators, the mechanism of the action of ${\beta}-carotene$ has not yet been identified. We carried out the present study to determine the possibilities of relative cancer risk related to dietary intake of vitamin A ( both ${\beta}-carotene$ and retinol ) and blood levels of vitamin A among Koreans. The subjects were divided into two groups; cancer patients and controls. Blood levels for ${\beta}-carotene$ and retinol were analyzed by alumina column chromatography and colorimetry. Dietary intake was examined by food profile and convenient method for evaluating nutritional status through recalling 10 years of food habits. The results obtained are as follows : 1 ) Calorie, protein, fat, and carbohydrate intakes of cancer patient were lower than those of control. Calorie and carbohydrate intakes showed no significant difference but protein and fat intakes were significantly lower in cancer patients. According to cancer sites, in stomach cancer only fat intake was significantly lower than that of control. In lung and larynx cancer calorie, protein, fat and carbohydrate intakes showed similar trend as in control. 2 ) Vitamin A intake of cancer patient was significantly lower than that of control. It was estimated that 83.6% of total Vitamin A intake were provided by ${\beta}-carotene$ for control and cancer patient respectively. 3 ) The mean intake of dietary ${\beta}-carotene$ in cancer patient was significantly lower than that in control ( $7002\;\mu}g/day$ versus $10326\;{\mu}g/day$ ) According to cancer sites in mean intake of dietary ${\beta}-carotene$ was significantly lower in all but stomach cancer compared with that of control. Lung and larynx cancer showed lowest ${\beta}-carotene$ intake with mean value of $5855{\mu}g/day$ and $5492{\mu}g/day$ respectively. 4 ) The mean intake of dietary retinol in cancer patient was significantly lower than that in control ( $245{\mu}g/day$ versus $338{\mu}g/day$ ), but the difference was not significant. 5 ) The relative risk of all cancers in the first (lowest) to the forth quartile level of ${\beta}-carotene$ consumption such as $0-5999{\mu}g/day$. $6000-8999{\mu}g/day$, $9000-11999{\mu}g/day$/ day and $12000-20000{\mu}g/day$ was 85 : 1.7 : 20 : 1.0. The relative risk of all cancers in the first (lowest) to the forth quartile level of retinol consumption, such as $0-299{\mu}g/day$, $300-599{\mu}g/day$, 600-899${\mu}g/day$, and $900-1200{\mu}g/day$, was 1.14 : 067 : 0.21 : 1.0. 6 ) The various food group consumption of cancer patient were significantly lower than those of control in green leafy vegetables, fruits, sea weeds, milk and cheese and eggs. But the Kimchie consumption in cancer patient was three fold higher than that of control ( $1840\;{\mu}g/day$ versus $562\;{\mu}g/day$ ) and in the stomach cancer, Kimchie consumption was the highest, ( $1890\;{\mu}g/day$) According to cancer sites, the consumption of green leafy vegetables was significantly lower in all but stomach cancer compared to control and other vegetables showed no difference between two. In lung and larynx cancer, green leafy vegetables consumption was lowest ( $6094{\mu}g/day$ $5921{\mu}g/day$) and milk and cheese consumption was also( $5\;{\mu}g/day$ and $11{\mu}g/day$) 7 ) The recovery of ${\beta}-carotene$ from human serum by alumina column chromatography was $94.4{\pm}2.3%$. 8 ) Cancer patients showed significantly lower serum retinol ($56.4{\pm}18.1\:{\mu}g/100ml$ versus $72.2{\pm}21.8\:{\mu}g/100ml$) and ${\beta}-carotene$ ($48.9{\pm}33.8\:{\mu}g/100ml$ versus $72.2{\pm}42.6\:{\mu}g/100ml$) concentrations than in controls. 9 ) But breast cancer patients were not significantly different from controls in their serum retinol and ${\beta}-carotene$ concentrations.