title: Provitamin A carotenoid intake and carotid artery plaques: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.
abstract: We examined the cross-sectional association between intake of carotenoids with provitamin A activity and carotid artery plaques in 12,773 participants of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study aged 45-64 y. Usual diet was assessed with a 66-item food-frequency questionnaire. Plaques were examined by B-mode ultrasound of multiple carotid artery segments. In both women and men, those in the highest quintile of carotenoid consumption had a lower prevalence of plaques (women, 25.4%; men, 36.0%) than those in the lowest quintile of carotenoid consumption (women, 29.3%; men, 39.8%). The prevalence odds ratios contrasting extreme intake quintiles were 0.82 (95% CI: 0.70, 0.97) in women and 0.85 (95% CI: 0.72, 1.01) in men. The associations diminished slightly after potential confounders were adjusted for. In women, the inverse association was particularly strong for current smokers (adjusted odds ratio contrasting extreme quintiles: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.45, 0.98). In men, no such effect modification by smoking was seen. The inverse association was somewhat stronger in men aged 55-64 y than in those aged 45-54 y, whereas age made little difference in women. These findings, together with previous findings that carotenoid intake was unrelated to average carotid artery wall thickness, suggest that carotenoids may exert their influence later rather than earlier in the atherosclerotic process, and support the hypothesis that carotenoids or other plant-derived compounds may play a role in preventing arterial plaque formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee, Memphis 38105, USA. skritchevsky@utmem1.utmem.edu
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kritchevsky
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Tell
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimakawa
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dennis
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kohlmeier
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Steere
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heiss
mesh_terms: D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D002338:Carotenoids