title: Associations of soluble fiber, whole fruits/vegetables, and juice with plasma Beta-carotene concentrations in a free-living population of breast cancer survivors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Soluble fiber and the physical state of fruits/vegetables affect plasma ß-carotene concentrations; however, most of this research was conducted in laboratory-based settings. These analyses investigated the relationship between soluble fiber and juiced versus whole fruits/vegetables to plasma ß-carotene concentrations in a free-living population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional analysis used 12-month follow-up data from the Women's Healthy Eating & Living Study (1995-2006), a study to improve diet in breast cancer survivors in the Western United States. The dietary nutrients considered in this analysis included intake of soluble fiber (g), ß-carotene from fruit/vegetable juice (mg), and ß-carotene from whole fruits/vegetables (mg). A linear regression model was used to assess the relationship of the variables to plasma ß-carotene concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 3,088 women enrolled in the Women's Healthy Eating & Living Study, 2,397 women had complete data (mean age = 54). The final model accounted for approximately 49% of the explained variance in plasma ß-carotene concentrations. Fruit/vegetable juice had the largest positive relation to plasma ß-carotene concentrations (standardized parameter estimate = 0.23, p < 0.01), followed by whole fruits/vegetables (standardized parameter estimate = 0.09, p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Soluble fiber may inhibit ß-carotene absorption; therefore, consumption of juice may increase plasma ß-carotene concentrations more than whole fruits/vegetables in free-living populations.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA. jkolodzi@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Julia K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kolodziejczyk
authors.forename: Shirley W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Flatt
authors.forename: Loki
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Natarajan
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.forename: Gregory J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Norman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D057566:Self Report; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013689:Telephone; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014675:Vegetables; D055815:Young Adult; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D019207:beta Carotene