title: Lycopene but not lutein nor zeaxanthin decreases in serum and lipoproteins in age-related macular degeneration patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epidemiological studies have established that a low serum concentration of carotenoids was associated with risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD). The aim of this study was to determine carotenoid levels in serum and in different lipoprotein fractions in patients diagnosed for ARMD and in matched control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four ARMD patients and 21 control subjects from Brest area (France) have been included to this study. Lipoproteins have been separated from serum by gradient density ultracentrifugation. We measured concentration of carotenoids and tocopherols in serum and in different lipoprotein fractions by HPLC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No difference was observed between ARMD patients and control subjects in total serum carotenoids. Individual carotenoid levels showed that only lycopene was decreased significantly in serum, LDL and HDL fractions in patients (P<0.05). Concentrations in serum and lipoparticle fractions of lutein and zeaxanthin, the major pigments present in macula were not modified between both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lycopene, as liposoluble antioxidant nutrient, is the only carotenoid altered in ARMD patients. It cannot be excluded that this effect is related to different dietary habits, but we hypothesise that lower lycopene status could result also from specific antioxidant protection of lutein and zeaxanthin by lycopene.
authors.affiliation: Unité des Maladies Métaboliques et Micronutriments, INRA Clermont-Ferrand/Theix, 63122 St Genes Champanelle, France. Nicolas.Cardinault@clermont.inra.fr
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cardinault
authors.forename: Jean-Hervé
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Abalain
authors.forename: Badie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sairafi
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coudray
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grolier
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rambeau
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Carré
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazur
authors.forename: Edmond
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rock
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood*; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D014975:Lutein / Q000097:blood*; D000077276:Lycopene; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000097:blood; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008074:Lipoproteins; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene; D002338:Carotenoids; D003300:Copper; D024505:Tocopherols; D000077276:Lycopene; D014975:Lutein