Inverse association of carotenoid intakes with 4-y change in bone mineral density in elderly men and women: the Framingham Osteoporosis Study.
BACKGROUND
In vitro and in vivo studies suggest that carotenoids may inhibit bone resorption and stimulate proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts. Few studies have examined the association between carotenoid intake (other than beta-carotene) and bone mineral density (BMD).


OBJECTIVE
We evaluated associations between total and individual carotenoid intake (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and lutein+zeaxanthin) with BMD at the hip, spine, and radial shaft and the 4-y change in BMD.


METHODS
Both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were conducted in 334 men and 540 women (mean +/- SD age: 75 +/- 5 y) in the Framingham Osteoporosis Study. Energy-adjusted carotenoid intakes were estimated from the Willett food-frequency questionnaire. Mean BMD and mean 4-y BMD changes were estimated, for men and women separately, by quartile of carotenoid intake with adjustment for age, BMI, height, physical activity index, smoking (never compared with ever smokers), multivitamin use, season of BMD measurement (for cross-sectional analyses on BMD only), estrogen use (in women), and intakes of total energy, calcium, vitamin D, caffeine, and alcohol.


RESULTS
Few cross-sectional associations were observed with carotenoid intake. Associations between lycopene intake and 4-y change in lumbar spine BMD were significant for women (P for trend = 0.03), as were intakes of total carotenoids, beta-carotene, lycopene and lutein+zeaxanthin with 4-y change in trochanter BMD in men (P for trend = 0.0005, 0.02, 0.009, and 0.008, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Carotenoids showed protective associations against 4-y loss in trochanter BMD in men and in lumbar spine in women. No significant associations were observed at other bone sites. Although not consistent across all BMD sites examined, these results support a protective role of carotenoids for BMD in older men and women.
Sahni
Shivani
S
Dietary Assessment and Epidemiology Research Program and the Antioxidants Research Laboratory, Jean Mayer US Department of Agriculture, HNRCA, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111-1524, USA.
Hannan
Marian T
MT
Blumberg
Jeffrey
J
Cupples
L Adrienne
LA
Kiel
Douglas P
DP
Tucker
Katherine L
KL
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000517:prevention & control; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013131:Spine / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects
D002338:Carotenoids