Serum antioxidants, inflammation, and total mortality in older women.
The inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been linked to poor health outcomes in older adults. Oxidative stress triggers the production of IL-6, and antioxidant micronutrients play a critical role in decreasing this inflammatory response. The authors sought to identify the relations between serum levels of antioxidant nutrients and IL-6 and mortality in older women. Levels of alpha- and beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein/zeaxanthin, alpha-cryptoxanthin, total carotenoids, retinol, alpha-tocopherol, zinc, and selenium were measured at baseline in 619 participants in Women's Health and Aging Study I (Baltimore, Maryland, 1992-1998). IL-6 was measured at baseline and at follow-up 1 and 2 years later, and all-cause mortality was determined over a 5-year period. Participants with the highest serum levels of alpha-carotene, total carotenoids, and selenium were significantly less likely to be in the highest tertile of serum IL-6 at baseline (p < 0.0001). Those with the lowest levels of alpha- and beta-carotene, lutein/zeaxanthin, and total carotenoids were significantly more likely to have increasing IL-6 levels over a period of 2 years. Those with the lowest selenium levels had a significantly higher risk of total mortality over a period of 5 years (hazard ratio = 1.54, 95% confidence interval: 1.03, 2.32). These findings suggest that specific antioxidant nutrients may play an important role in suppressing IL-6 levels in disabled older women.
Walston
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J
School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. jwalston@jhmi.edu
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Ferrucci
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Guralnik
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D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015142:Baltimore / Q000453:epidemiology; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009026:Mortality; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D016387:Women's Health; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors
D000975:Antioxidants; D002338:Carotenoids; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012643:Selenium; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors