title: Association between higher plasma lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamin C concentrations and longer telomere length: results of the Austrian Stroke Prevention Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the association between plasma concentrations of antioxidative micronutrients and leukocyte telomere length (LTL) in elderly adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Austrian Stroke Prevention Study, a population-based cohort study on brain aging.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals with a mean age of 66 ± 7 (n = 786; 58% female).
  
  
  METHODS
  Concentrations of vitamin C, lutein, zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, canthaxanthin, lycopene, α- and γ-tocopherol, α- and β-carotene, and retinol in plasma, advanced oxidation protein products as a measure of oxidative stress in serum, and LTL were measured. Vitamins and carotenoids were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography, advanced oxidation protein products using spectrophotometry, and telomere length using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiple linear regression analyses with adjustment for age and sex demonstrated that higher lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamin C concentrations were strongly associated with longer telomere length. The associations were independent of body mass index, maximum oxygen uptake, and vascular risk factors and were not mediated by advanced oxidation protein products content.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides first evidence that higher lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamin C concentrations in plasma are associated with longer LTL in normal elderly persons and suggest a protective role of these vitamins in telomere maintenance.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit for Genetic Epidemiology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Center of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Abhijit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Gunther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marsche
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Freudenberger
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schallert
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Toeglhofer
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nagl
authors.forename: Reinhold
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Lenore J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Launer
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D014975:Lutein / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D059505:Telomere Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D065146:Zeaxanthins
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D004247:DNA; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D014975:Lutein
keywords: aging; antioxidants; lutein zeaxanthin; oxidative stress; telomere length; vitamin C