Circulating oxidized low-density lipoproteins are associated with overweight, obesity, and low serum carotenoids in older community-dwelling women.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to determine whether total serum carotenoids, alpha-tocopherol, selenium, and obesity were independently associated with oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDLs) in moderately to severely disabled older women living in the community.


METHODS
Serum ox-LDLs, carotenoids, alpha-tocopherol, and selenium were measured in a population-based sample of 543 moderately to severely disabled women > or = 65 y in the Women's Health and Aging Study I in Baltimore, Maryland.


RESULTS
Total serum carotenoids, smoking, overweight (body mass index 25-29.9 kg/m(2)), and obesity (body mass index > or = 30 mg/kg(2)) were significantly associated with the ox-LDL/LDL cholesterol ratio after adjusting for age, C-reactive protein, and chronic diseases. alpha-Tocopherol and selenium were not significantly associated with the ox-LDL/LDL cholesterol ratio.


CONCLUSIONS
Older women who are overweight or obese or who have low total serum carotenoids are more likely to have higher lipoprotein oxidation. Weight reduction in overweight/obese women and increased intake of carotenoid-rich foods may potentially reduce lipoprotein oxidation.
Beck
Justine
J
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Ferrucci
Luigi
L
Sun
Kai
K
Fried
Linda P
LP
Varadhan
Ravi
R
Walston
Jeremy
J
Guralnik
Jack M
JM
Semba
Richard D
RD
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000097:blood
D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D002338:Carotenoids; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D012643:Selenium