Plasma lycopene concentrations in humans are determined by lycopene intake, plasma cholesterol concentrations and selected demographic factors.
Higher plasma lycopene concentrations have been associated with a reduced risk of several chronic diseases. Determinants of lycopene concentrations in humans have received limited attention. We had blood lycopene concentrations and lycopene consumption data available from 111 participants in a two-center cancer prevention trial involving beta-carotene and examined determinants of plasma lycopene levels cross-sectionally. The median plasma lycopene level was 0.59 micromol/L (range 0.07-1.79). Low plasma concentrations of lycopene were associated with the following variables in univariate analyses: study site (Florida lower than Connecticut, P = 0.001), being nonmarried (P = 0.02), having lower income (P = 0.003), being nonwhite race/ethnicity (P = 0.03), having lower dietary lycopene intake (r = 0.29, P = 0.002), having lower plasma cholesterol (r = 0. 43, P = 0.0001) and triglyceride levels (r = 0.26, P = 0.005), and consuming less vitamin C (r = 0.20, P = 0.03). Women had slightly higher plasma lycopene levels than men (0.65 vs. 0.58 micromol/L; P = 0.31), despite lower dietary intake of lycopene (1,040 vs. 1,320 microg/d; P = 0.50). Plasma lycopene levels did not differ in smokers and nonsmokers. In stepwise regression analyses, the determinants of plasma lycopene were plasma cholesterol, dietary lycopene, and marital status; these three variables explained 26% of the variance in plasma lycopene. Relatively few lifestyle and demographic factors were important determinants of plasma lycopene levels, with plasma cholesterol, marital status, and lycopene intake being of greatest importance.
Mayne
S T
ST
Department of Epidemiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
Cartmel
B
B
Silva
F
F
Kim
C S
CS
Fallon
B G
BG
Briskin
K
K
Zheng
T
T
Baum
M
M
Shor-Posner
G
G
Goodwin
W J
WJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077276:Lycopene; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D014481:United States
D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D002338:Carotenoids; D002784:Cholesterol; D000077276:Lycopene