Serum carotenoids and cerebral white matter lesions: the Rotterdam scan study.
OBJECTIVE
To study the relation between serum levels of carotenoids and white matter lesions (WMLs) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).


METHODS
Evaluation of cross-sectional data from a cohort study.


METHODS
The Rotterdam Scan Study.


METHODS
Two hundred and three nondemented older persons, age 60 to 90, from the Rotterdam Scan Study.


METHODS
Serum levels of carotenoids were determined. WMLs on MRIs were rated separately into periventricular and subcortical WMLs. Odds ratios (ORs) for the presence of severe WMLs (upper decile) were calculated per standard deviation (SD) increase in serum carotenoid level and per SD increase in overall carotenoid serum level. Effect modification by smoking status was studied through stratified analyses.


RESULTS
Increasing levels of all the separate carotenoids were associated with less severe periventricular WMLs, which reached statistical significance for the overall carotenoid serum level (OR 0.4 per SD; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.2-0.9). We found no association between carotenoid levels and the presence of severe subcortical WMLs (OR 1.2 per SD; 95% CI = 0.7-2.0). The association of carotenoid levels with severe periventricular WMLs was more marked in those who ever smoked (OR 0.1 per SD; 95% CI = 0.0-0.9) than in those who had never smoked (OR 0.9 per SD; 95% CI = 0.4-2.1).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings are compatible with the view that high levels of carotenoids may protect against WMLs in the periventricular region, in particular in smokers. Longitudinal studies with repeated measurements of both carotenoids and WMLs are necessary to explore this hypothesis further.
den Heijer
T
T
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Launer
L J
LJ
de Groot
J C
JC
de Leeuw
F E
FE
Oudkerk
M
M
van Gijn
J
J
Hofman
A
A
Breteler
M M
MM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D002338:Carotenoids