title: Serum retinol and β-carotene levels and risk factors for cardiovascular disease in morbid obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to evaluate retinol and β-carotene serum levels and their relationship with risk factors for cardiovascular disease in individuals with morbid obesity, resident in Rio de Janeiro.
  
  
  METHODS
  blood serum concentrations of retinol and β-carotene of 189 morbidly obese individuals were assessed. The metabolic syndrome was identified according to the criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) and World Health Organization (WHO). Lipid profile, insulin resistance, basal insulin, glycemia, blood pressure, and anthropometry and their correlation with retinol and β-carotene serum levels were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  metabolic syndrome diagnosis was observed in 49.0% of the sample. Within this percentage the levels of β-carotene were significantly lower when body mass index increased. Serum retinol didn't show this behavior. Serum retinol inadequacy in patients with metabolic syndrome (61.3%), according to WHO criterion, was higher (15.8%) than when the whole sample was considered (12.7%). When metabolic syndrome was diagnosed by NCEP criterion, β-carotene inadequacy was higher (42.8%) when compared to the total sample (37.5%). There was a significant difference between average β-carotene values of patients with and without metabolic syndrome (p=0.048) according to the classification of the NCEP. Lower values were found in patients with metabolic syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  considering the vitamin A contribution in antioxidant protection, especially when risk factors for cardiovascular disease are present, it is suggested that great attention be given to morbidly obese. This could aid in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, which affects a significant part of the population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Applied Nutrition, Nutrition Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. gabrielavc@gmail.com
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Villaça Chaves
authors.forename: Gisele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gonçalves de Souza
authors.forename: Andréa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cardoso de Matos
authors.forename: Wilza
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Abrantes Peres
authors.forename: Silvia Elaine
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Carlos José
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Saboya
authors.forename: Cristiane Aline
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: D'Almeida
authors.forename: Andréa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramalho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014504:Urban Health; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A