Plasma β-Carotene Is Not a Suitable Biomarker of Fruit and Vegetable Intake in German Subjects with a Long-Term High Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables

• Published in: Annals of nutrition and metabolism Vol. 56; no. 1; pp. 23 - 30
• Main Authors: Garcia, A.L., Mohan, R., Koebnick, C., Bub, A., Heuer, T., Strassner, C., Groeneveld, M.J., Katz, N., Elmadfa, I., Leitzmann, C., Hoffmann, I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 01.01.2010
• Subjects: Adult; beta Carotene - administration & dosage; beta Carotene - blood; beta-carotene; Biomarkers - blood; blood serum; chemical constituents of plants; Diet; Energy Intake; Female; Food Handling - methods; food intake; Fruit; fruits (food); Germany; Health Promotion; Hot Temperature; Humans; long term effects; Middle Aged; Nutritive Value; Original Paper; plant-based foods; raw fruit; raw vegetables; Vegetables; Germany; Fruit and vegetable consumption; Raw food diet; Wholesome nutrition; β-Carotene; Western diet
• ISSN: 0250-6807; 1421-9697
• DOI: 10.1159/000262295

Background/Objective: β-Carotene is often used as a marker for the amount of fruit and vegetables consumed, but little is known about plasma β-carotene concentrations in subjects whose habitual (long-term) diets are characterized by different amounts of foods of plant origin. We compared dietary β-carotene intake and plasma concentrations in women on habitual diets differing in the consumed amounts of foods of plant origin. Methods: A comparison of dietary β-carotene intakes and plasma β-carotene concentrations in women adhering to an average Western diet (n = 172), wholesome nutrition (following preventive recommendations) (n = 238) or a raw food diet (n = 104). Results: Dietary β-carotene intake was 5.5, 9.3, 14.7 mg/day for women adhering to an average Western diet, wholesome nutrition and raw food diet, respectively (p < 0.001). Corresponding multivariate adjusted plasma β-carotene concentrations were 1.07, 1.65, and 1.16 µmol/l, respectively (p < 0.001). Comparable dietary β-carotene intake resulted in lower multivariate adjusted plasma β-carotene in women adhering to a raw food diet and average Western diet compared to those on wholesome nutrition (p < 0.001 for all intake groups up to 20 mg/day). The amount of fruit and vegetable intake did not predict plasma β-carotene levels in women consuming a raw food diet. Conclusions: Plasma β-carotene concentrations differed among the diet groups, with highest plasma levels in women adhering to wholesome nutrition. Plasma β-carotene concentrations may not reflect β-carotene intake and the amount of fruit and vegetables consumed.