title: Association between leukocyte telomere length and serum carotenoid in US adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Telomere length is a biomarker for aging. It is known that oxidative stress can accelerate telomere shortening, whereas antioxidants can delay their shortening. Carotenoids as antioxidants are favorably associated with health- and aging-related diseases caused by oxidative stress, but their association with telomere length is less certain. We investigated the association between blood carotenoid levels and leukocyte telomere length in a representative sample of US adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed 3660 participants aged 20 years and older in the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The levels of carotenoids-alpha-carotene, beta-carotene (trans + cis), beta-cryptoxanthin, combined lutein/zeaxanthin, and trans-lycopene-were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. The leukocyte telomere length (T/S ratio) was assayed using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A doubling of blood alpha-carotene, beta-carotene (trans + cis), and beta-cryptoxanthin was associated with approximately 2 % longer telomeres. Compared with the lowest carotenoid quartile of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene (trans + cis), and beta-cryptoxanthin, telomere length for adults with the highest quartiles was significantly increased by 5-8 %.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that increasing levels of blood carotenoid were significantly associated with longer leukocyte telomeres in US adults. High intake of carotenoid-rich food may play a role in protecting telomeres and regulating telomere length.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoung-Bok
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Environment, School of Public Health, Seoul National University, 599 Gwanak, Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 151-742, Republic of Korea. yaemin00@snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jin-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Min
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016615:Telomere / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006710:Homocysteine; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D002338:Carotenoids; D005492:Folic Acid; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid
keywords: Antioxidant; Carotenoid; Oxidative stress; Telomere
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