title: Independent positive association of plasma β-carotene concentrations with adiponectin among non-diabetic obese subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many epidemiological studies find an inverse correlation between carotenoids intake or carotenoids plasma concentrations and body mass index (BMI), insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome in the general population. However, it is not clear whether these relationships occur in obese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study in 108 obese non-diabetic patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was an inverse correlation between plasma levels of pro-vitamin A carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin) and both BMI and insulin resistance (estimated by the HOMA-IR). No correlation between plasma concentrations of lycopene or lutein/zeaxanthin and BMI or insulin resistance was found. The inverse association between the three pro-vitamin A carotenoids and HOMA-IR disappeared after adjustment for BMI and waist circumference. Interestingly, we identified a positive association between concentrations of β-carotene and adiponectin in plasma that was independent of sex, age, smoking status, BMI and waist circumference. To our knowledge, such association has never been described in obese patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest the existence of a favourable effect of β-carotene on insulin sensitivity in obese individuals that could involve a positive regulation of adiponectin, either directly or via its pro-vitamin A activity. The demonstration of the potential benefits of β-carotene towards insulin sensitivity would open the way to dietary strategies to prevent metabolic syndrome.
authors.affiliation: UMR 1260, INRA, Université d'Aix-Marseille, 27 Bd Jean Moulin, 13385, Marseille Cedex 05, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ben Amara
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tourniaire
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maraninchi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Attia
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Amiot-Carlin
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raccah
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valéro
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Landrier
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Darmon
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D016014:Linear Models; D014975:Lutein / Q000097:blood; D000077276:Lycopene; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000097:blood; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult; D065146:Zeaxanthins / Q000097:blood; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D007375:Interleukin-1; D020738:Leptin; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; C051321:SERPINE1 protein, human; D014280:Triglycerides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene; D002338:Carotenoids; D000077276:Lycopene; D014975:Lutein