van der Horst-Graat Judith M, Kok Frans J, Schouten Evert G
Division of Human Nutrition and Epidemiology, Wageningen University, Bomenweg 2, P.O. Box 8129, 6703 HD, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Br J Nutr. 2004 Jul;92(1):113-8. doi: 10.1079/BJN20041155.
A high plasma carotenoid concentration could improve the immune response and result in decreased risk of infectious diseases. However, data on the relationship of plasma carotenoid concentration with acute respiratory infections, which occur frequently in elderly people, are scarce. We investigated, therefore, the relationship of plasma concentrations of six major carotenoids (beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin) with the incidence and severity of acute respiratory infections. Baseline data from an intervention trial were used. Participants were 652 non-institutionalized elderly people (> or =60 years old) enrolled via two community-based sampling strategies in the Wageningen area of The Netherlands in 1998-99. Plasma carotenoid concentrations were divided into quartiles, the lowest being the reference. Frequency and severity of episodes during the previous 1 year, i.e. staying in bed, medical consultation and episode-related medication, were self-reported by means of a questionnaire. On average 1.6 episodes per person were recorded. The incidence rate ratio of acute respiratory infections at high beta-carotene status was 0.71 (95 % CI 0.54-0.92) as compared with the low beta-carotene concentration group. No association was observed between beta-carotene and illness severity. alpha-Carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin were not related to incidence or severity of the infections. We conclude that elderly people with a high plasma beta-carotene concentration may have a lower occurrence of acute respiratory infections.
血浆类胡萝卜素浓度较高可改善免疫反应，并降低感染性疾病的风险。然而，关于血浆类胡萝卜素浓度与老年人中常见的急性呼吸道感染之间关系的数据却很稀少。因此，我们研究了六种主要类胡萝卜素（β-胡萝卜素、α-胡萝卜素、β-隐黄质、番茄红素、叶黄素和玉米黄质）的血浆浓度与急性呼吸道感染的发病率和严重程度之间的关系。我们使用了一项干预试验的基线数据。参与者是1998 - 1999年通过两种基于社区的抽样策略在荷兰瓦赫宁根地区招募的652名非机构化老年人（≥60岁）。血浆类胡萝卜素浓度被分为四分位数，最低的作为参照。通过问卷调查的方式让参与者自行报告前一年发病的频率和严重程度，即卧床情况、就医情况以及与发病相关的用药情况。平均每人记录到1.6次发病情况。与低β-胡萝卜素浓度组相比，高β-胡萝卜素状态下急性呼吸道感染的发病率比值为0.71（95%置信区间0.54 - 0.92）。未观察到β-胡萝卜素与疾病严重程度之间存在关联。α-胡萝卜素、β-隐黄质、番茄红素、叶黄素和玉米黄质与感染的发病率或严重程度均无关联。我们得出结论，血浆β-胡萝卜素浓度较高的老年人急性呼吸道感染的发生率可能较低。
