Plasma beta-carotene is not a suitable biomarker of fruit and vegetable intake in german subjects with a long-term high consumption of fruits and vegetables.
OBJECTIVE
beta-Carotene is often used as a marker for the amount of fruit and vegetables consumed, but little is known about plasma beta-carotene concentrations in subjects whose habitual (long-term) diets are characterized by different amounts of foods of plant origin. We compared dietary beta-carotene intake and plasma concentrations in women on habitual diets differing in the consumed amounts of foods of plant origin.


METHODS
A comparison of dietary beta-carotene intakes and plasma beta-carotene concentrations in women adhering to an average Western diet (n = 172), wholesome nutrition (following preventive recommendations) (n = 238) or a raw food diet (n = 104).


RESULTS
Dietary beta-carotene intake was 5.5, 9.3, 14.7 mg/day for women adhering to an average Western diet, wholesome nutrition and raw food diet, respectively (p < 0.001). Corresponding multivariate adjusted plasma beta-carotene concentrations were 1.07, 1.65, and 1.16 micromol/l, respectively (p < 0.001). Comparable dietary beta-carotene intake resulted in lower multivariate adjusted plasma beta-carotene in women adhering to a raw food diet and average Western diet compared to those on wholesome nutrition (p < 0.001 for all intake groups up to 20 mg/day). The amount of fruit and vegetable intake did not predict plasma beta-carotene levels in women consuming a raw food diet.


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma beta-carotene concentrations differed among the diet groups, with highest plasma levels in women adhering to wholesome nutrition. Plasma beta-carotene concentrations may not reflect beta-carotene intake and the amount of fruit and vegetables consumed.
Garcia
A L
AL
Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Giessen, Germany.
Mohan
R
R
Koebnick
C
C
Bub
A
A
Heuer
T
T
Strassner
C
C
Groeneveld
M J
MJ
Katz
N
N
Elmadfa
I
I
Leitzmann
C
C
Hoffmann
I
I
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods; D005638:Fruit; D005858:Germany; D006293:Health Promotion; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009753:Nutritive Value; D014675:Vegetables; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D019207:beta Carotene