Dietary sources of vitamin C, vitamin E and specific carotenoids in Spain.
A cross-sectional study was conducted within the Spanish cohort of the European Prospective Investigation in Cancer and Nutrition to assess the principal food sources of vitamin C, vitamin E, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, beta-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin in an adult Spanish population. The study included 41446 healthy volunteers (25812 women and 15634 men), aged 29-69 years, from three Spanish regions in the north (Asturias, Navarra and Guipúzcoa) and two in the south (Murcia and Granada). Usual food intake was estimated by personal interview through a computerized version of a dietary history questionnaire. Foods that provided at least two-thirds of the studied nutrients were: fruits (mainly oranges) (51 %) and fruiting vegetables (mainly tomato and sweet pepper) (20 %) for vitamin C; vegetable oils (sunflower and olive) (40 %), non-citrus fruits (10 %), and nuts and seeds (8 %) for vitamin E; root vegetables (carrots) (82 %) for alpha-carotene; green leafy (28 %), root (24 %) and fruiting vegetables (22 %) for beta-carotene; fruiting vegetables (fresh tomato) (72 %) for lycopene; green leafy vegetables (64 %) for lutein; citrus fruits (68 %) for beta-cryptoxanthin; citrus fruits (43 %) and green leafy vegetables (20 %) for zeaxanthin. In conclusion, the main food sources of nutrients with redox properties have been identified in a Mediterranean country. This could provide an insight into the interpretation of epidemiological studies investigating the role of diet in health and disease.
García-Closas
Reina
R
Institut Català d'Oncologia, 08907 Barcelona, Spain. rgarcia@ico.scs.es
Berenguer
Antonio
A
José Tormo
María
M
José Sánchez
María
M
Quirós
José R
JR
Navarro
Carmen
C
Arnaud
Rosario
R
Dorronsoro
Miren
M
Dolores Chirlaque
María
M
Barricarte
Aurelio
A
Ardanaz
Eva
E
Amiano
Pilar
P
Martinez
Carmen
C
Agudo
Antonio
A
González
Carlos A
CA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D065366:Cryptoxanthins; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D014975:Lutein / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077276:Lycopene; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013030:Spain; D014675:Vegetables; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
D065366:Cryptoxanthins; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids; C041635:alpha-carotene; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D000077276:Lycopene; D014975:Lutein