Effects of alcohol drinking and cigarette smoking on serum alpha- and beta-carotene concentrations in healthy adults.

The effects of alcohol and cigarette consumption on serum concentrations of alpha-carotene and beta-carotene in 312 healthy male adults, aged from 20 to 58 years, were investigated. Serum concentrations of beta-carotene were lower in alcohol drinkers (17.8 micrograms/dl; 0.33 mumol/l) than in nondrinkers (23.2 micrograms/dl; 0.43 mumol/l). Serum concentrations of alpha- and beta-carotenes were higher in nonsmokers (alpha-carotene: 7.4 micrograms/dl; beta-carotene: 22.6 micrograms/dl) than in current smokers (alpha-carotene: 5.9 micrograms/dl; beta-carotene: 18.4 micrograms/dl). In simple correlation and multiple regression analyses, smoking, smoking and alcohol drinking were inversely correlated with serum concentrations of alpha- and beta-carotenes in healthy adults. In contrast, serum concentrations of alpha- and beta-carotenes rose significantly with an increasing intake frequency of green-yellow vegetables or fruits. In addition, the effect of alcohol drinking on the serum beta-carotene concentration was more pronounced that that of smoking.