title: Effect of beta-carotene on immunological indexes in healthy male smokers.
abstract: To evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of beta-carotene we performed a randomized, double-blind trial in healthy male cigarette smokers. Lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood were assessed by using double labeling with monoclonal antibodies before and after 14 wk beta-carotene (20 mg/d; n = 21) or placebo (n = 24) supplements. In addition we measured the ex vivo phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A induced lymphocyte proliferation in a separate group (23 placebo, 24 beta-carotene). The beta-carotene and placebo groups were comparable on all initial characteristics. During the intervention plasma concentrations of beta-carotene increased 13-fold in the treatment group whereas retinol concentrations remained constant. Beta-carotene had no effect on lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood. After treatment the beta-carotene group showed 12% higher PHA-induced lymphocyte proliferations than the placebo group (P = 0.02). For ConA induced proliferations no significant difference was observed. These results suggest that supplementary beta-carotene can moderately enhance certain aspects of immune response in healthy male cigarette smokers.
authors.affiliation: The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research, (TNO) Toxicology and Nutrition Institute, Zeist.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van Poppel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spanhaak
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ockhuizen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D019207:beta Carotene
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D019207:beta Carotene; D003208:Concanavalin A; D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids