title: Serum carotenoid and retinol levels during childhood infections.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years, new physiological functions of vitamin A have been identified, including its role in immune defense. The antioxidant potential of carotenoids is thought to account for their health benefits. The aim of this study was to investigate the concentration changes in the provitamin-A (alpha- and-beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin) and of the non-provitamin-A carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin and lycopene) in children with acute infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum retinol and carotenoid concentrations were measured by HPLC in 45 children suffering from acute infections and in 29 healthy controls. In addition 15 healthy children collected food samples over 2 days. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured by turbidimetry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum levels of beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin and retinol and non-provitamin-A carotenoid lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations were significantly lower in children with infections compared to healthy controls. There were significant negative correlations between CRP levels and serum beta-carotene and retinol concentrations. The average intake of retinol equivalents was 1.1 +/- 0.6 mg/day.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum retinol and provitamin-A as well as non-provitamin-A carotenoid concentrations were lower in children with acute phase infections compared to healthy controls. The inverse correlations between CRP and beta-carotene or retinol indicate either decreased synthesis or increased utilization of these antioxidants.
authors.affiliation: Bethesda Children's Hospital, Budapest, Hungary. cser.agnes@bethesda.hu
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cser
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Majchrzak
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rust
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sziklai-László
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kovács
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bocskai
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Elmadfa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D065366:Cryptoxanthins; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000097:blood*; D014975:Lutein / Q000097:blood; D000077276:Lycopene; D008297:Male; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D065366:Cryptoxanthins; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids; C041635:alpha-carotene; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000077276:Lycopene; D014975:Lutein