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Research: ZOU and COLLEAGUES,
Listed in Issue 242
Abstract
ZOU and COLLEAGUES, (1)Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China; (2)Department of Ultrasound Diagnoses, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China; (3)Central Laboratory, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China studied the effects of lutein and lycopene supplementation on carotid artery intima-media thickness (CAIMT) in patients with subclinical atherosclerosis.
Background
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of lutein and lycopene supplementation on carotid artery intima-media thickness (CAIMT) in subjects with subclinical atherosclerosis.
Methodology
A total of 144 subjects aged 45-68 years were recruited from local communities. All the subjects were randomly assigned to receive 20 mg lutein/d (n 48), 20 mg lutein/d+20 mg lycopene/d (n 48) or placebo (n 48) for 12 months. CAIMT was measured using Doppler ultrasonography at baseline and after 12 months, and serum lutein and lycopene concentrations were determined using HPLC.
Results
Serum lutein concentrations increased significantly from 0·34 to 1·96 μmol/l in the lutein group (P< 0·001) and from 0·35 to 1·66 μmol/l in the combination group (P< 0·001). Similarly, serum lycopene concentrations increased significantly from 0·18 to 0·71 μmol/l in the combination group at month 12 (P< 0·001), whereas no significant change was observed in the placebo group. The mean values of CAIMT decreased significantly by 0·035 mm (P= 0·042) and 0·073 mm (P< 0·001) in the lutein and combination groups at month 12, respectively. The change in CAIMT was inversely associated with the increase in serum lutein concentrations (P< 0·05) in both the active treatment groups and with that in serum lycopene concentrations (β = - 0·342, P= 0·031) in the combination group. Lutein and lycopene supplementation significantly increased the serum concentrations of lutein and lycopene with a decrease in CAIMT being associated with both concentrations.
Conclusion
In addition, the combination of lutein and lycopene supplementation was more effective than lutein alone for protection against the development of CAIMT in Chinese subjects with subclinical atherosclerosis, and further studies are needed to confirm whether synergistic effects of lutein and lycopene exist.
References
Zou ZY(1), Xu XR(1), Lin XM(1), Zhang HB(2), Xiao X(1), Ouyang L(3), Huang YM(1), Wang X(1), Liu YQ(3). Effects of lutein and lycopene on carotid intima-media thickness in Chinese subjects with subclinical atherosclerosis: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Br J Nutr. 111(3):474-80. Feb 2014. doi: 10.1017/S0007114513002730. Epub Sep 19 2013.
