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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #216609
Title: Relationships of Body Mass Index with Serum Carotenoids, Tocopherols and Retinol at Steady-State and in Response to a Carotenoid-Rich Vegetable Diet Intervention in Filipino Schoolchildren

Author
item Ribaya-Mercado, Judy
item MARAMAG, CHERRY - NUTR. CTR, PHILIPPINES
item TENGCO, LORENA - NUTR. CTR, PHILIPPINES
item Blumberg, Jeffrey
item SOLON, FLORENTINO - NUTR. CTR, PHILIPPINES

Submitted to: Bioscience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/2/2008
Publication Date: 4/2/2008
Citation: Ribaya-Mercado, J., Maramag, C.C., Tengco, L.W., Blumberg, J., Solon, F.S. 2008. Relationships of Body Mass Index with Serum Carotenoids, Tocopherols and Retinol at Steady-State and in Response to a Carotenoid-Rich Vegetable Diet Intervention in Filipino Schoolchildren. Bioscience. 28:97-106.

Interpretive Summary: Information is scarce regarding the blood levels of carotenoids and tocopherols (vitamin E) in marginally nourished populations, as well as factors influencing the circulating levels of these micronutrients. In 54 girls and 65 boys (ages: 9-12 years) residing in 2 adjacent poor rural communities in the Philippines, we determined a) the serum concentrations of 7 carotenoids (beta-carotene, 13-cis-beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta alpha-cryptoxanthin), 2 vitamin E compounds (alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol) and retinol (vitamin A); b) the cross-sectional relationships of these serum micronutrients with body mass index (BMI); c) the changes in serum carotenoid concentrations in response to a dietary intervention with carotenoid-rich vegetable meals; and d) whether BMI is a determinant of the serum carotenoid responses to the ingestion of carotenoid-rich vegetable meals. BMI (in kg/m2), which is thought to be a predictor of percentage body fat, was calculated from baseline weight and height measurements. At baseline, serum concentrations of carotenoids, tocopherols, and retinol were low in the Filipino study participants as compared with published values for similar-aged children in the USA. Significant inverse correlations of BMI and serum betalpha-carotene, 13-cis-betalpha-carotene, alpha-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and alpha-tocopherol (but not beta alpha-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and retinol) were observed among girls at baseline. After 9 weeks of ingesting standardized carotenoid-rich vegetable meals 3 times daily for 5 days/week, the serum levels of all the carotenoids were enhanced 2- to 19-fold. Changes in serum beta alpha-carotene and alpha-carotene (but not changes in the xanthophyll carotenoids, i.e., lutein. zeaxanthin, and betalpha-cryptoxanthin) in response to the dietary intervention were inversely and significantly associated with BMI in girls and boys. Thus in Filipino school-aged children, BMI is inversely related to the circulating concentrations of carotenoids and vitamin E, but not vitamin A, and is a determinant of serum beta alpha- and alpha-carotene responses, but not serum xanthophyll responses, to the ingestion of vegetable meals that are rich in these carotenoids. This study shows that the serum levels of certain micronutrients and their changes in response to dietary interventions are related to body composition.

Technical Abstract: In marginally nourished children, information is scarce regarding the circulating concentrations of carotenoids and tocopherols, as well as physiologic factors influencing their circulating levels. We determined a) serum concentrations of carotenoids, tocopherols and retinol in Filipino school-aged girls and boys, b) cross-sectional relationships of body mass index (BMI) and the steady-state serum concentrations of these micronutrients, c) serum carotenoid responses to a dietary intervention with carotenoid-rich vegetable meals, and d) whether BMI is a determinant of the serum carotenoid responses to the ingestion of carotenoid-rich vegetable meals. Serum carotenoids, tocopherols, and retinol were measured in 54 girls and 65 boys (ages: 9-12 y) by high-performance-liquid-chromatography at baseline and after 9 wk of ingesting standardized carotenoid-rich vegetable meals 3 times/d for 5 d/wk. BMI (in kg/m2) was calculated from weight and height measurements. Significant inverse correlations of BMI and serum all-trans-beta-carotene, 13-cis-beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and alpha-tocopherol (but not beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and retinol) were observed among girls at baseline. The dietary intervention enhanced the serum concentrations of all carotenoids. The changes in serum all-trans-beta-carotene and alpha-carotene (but not changes in lutein. zeaxanthin, and beta-cryptoxanthin) in response to the dietary intervention were inversely and significantly associated with BMI in girls and boys. Thus in Filipino school-aged children, BMI is related to the circulating concentrations of carotenoids and vitamin E, but not vitamin A, and is a determinant of serum beta- and alpha-carotene responses, but not serum xanthophyll responses, to the ingestion of vegetable meals that are rich in these carotenoids.