Lack of effects of beta-carotene on lipids and sex steroid hormones in hyperlipidemics.
Beta-carotene in doses of up to 300 mg daily raises high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels within 2 to 4 weeks in healthy subjects. The authors, in this study, investigate the short-term effects of high-dose beta-carotene upon serum lipids, lipoproteins, and selected sex steroid hormones in 59 adult patients with Type IIa or IIb hyperlipidemia and 36 healthy subjects. Volunteers took beta-carotene (300 mg) or wheat germ oil capsules daily for 30 days. Lipids were measured on days 1, 14, 21, and 30. Beta-carotene, retinol, free and total testosterone, and estradiol levels were measured on days 1 and 30. Total high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increased 10% (p < 0.01) over baseline in all groups by day 14 but returned to baseline by day 30. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels transiently increased between days 14 and 21 by up to 9%, 8%, and 20%, respectively, only in the patients with hyperlipidemia treated with beta-carotene, but returned to baseline on day 30. Apolipoproteins A and B were unchanged. Despite 20-fold increases of plasma beta-carotene levels there, were no reports of carotenodermia and no alteration in sex steroid hormones, retinol levels, hepatic transaminases, or persistent changes in serum lipids that were attributable to beta-carotene.
Hughes
G S
GS
Upjohn Company, Upjohn Research Clinics, Kalamazoo, MI 49001.
Ringer
T V
TV
Francom
S F
SF
Means
L K
LK
DeLoof
M J
MJ
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014908:Triticum; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D019207:beta Carotene
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D008055:Lipids; D010938:Plant Oils; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; C050055:wheat germ oil; D002338:Carotenoids; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol