In marginally nourished children, information is scarce regarding the circulating concentrations of carotenoids and tocopherols, and physiological factors influencing their circulating levels. We determined the serum concentrations of carotenoids, tocopherols and retinol at steady state and in response to a 9-week vegetable diet intervention in 9–12-year-old girls (n=54) and boys (n=65) in rural Philippines. We determined cross-sectional relationships of BMI (body mass index) with serum micronutrient levels, and whether BMI is a determinant of serum carotenoid responses to the ingestion of carotenoid-rich vegetables. We measured dietary nutrient intakes and assessed inflammation by measurement of serum C-reactive protein levels. The children had low serum concentrations of carotenoids, tocopherols and retinol as compared with published values for similar-aged children in the U.S.A. The low serum retinol levels can be ascribed to inadequate diets and were not the result of confounding due to inflammation. Significant inverse correlations of BMI and serum all-trans-β-carotene, 13-cis-β-carotene, α-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin and α-tocopherol (but not β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene and retinol) were observed among girls at baseline. The dietary intervention markedly enhanced the serum concentrations of all carotenoids. Changes in serum all-trans-β-carotene and α-carotene (but not changes in lutein, zeaxanthin and β-cryptoxanthin) in response to the dietary intervention were inversely associated with BMI in girls and boys. Thus, in Filipino school-aged children, BMI is inversely related to the steady-state serum concentrations of certain carotenoids and vitamin E, but not vitamin A, and is a determinant of serum β- and α-carotene responses, but not xanthophyll responses, to the ingestion of carotenoid-rich vegetable meals.
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Research Article|
May 02 2008
Relationships of body mass index with serum carotenoids, tocopherols and retinol at steady-state and in response to a carotenoid-rich vegetable diet intervention in Filipino schoolchildren1
Judy D. Ribaya-Mercado;
Judy D. Ribaya-Mercado
2
* Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center at Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
2 To whom correspondence should be addressed ([email protected]).
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Cherry C. Maramag;
Cherry C. Maramag
† Nutrition Center of the Philippines, Villamor Interchange, West Bicutan, Taguig City, Philippines
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Lorena W. Tengco;
Lorena W. Tengco
† Nutrition Center of the Philippines, Villamor Interchange, West Bicutan, Taguig City, Philippines
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Jeffrey B. Blumberg;
Jeffrey B. Blumberg
* Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center at Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Florentino S. Solon
Florentino S. Solon
† Nutrition Center of the Philippines, Villamor Interchange, West Bicutan, Taguig City, Philippines
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
November 29 2007
Revision Received:
March 11 2008
Accepted:
April 02 2008
Accepted Manuscript online:
April 02 2008
Online ISSN: 1573-4935
Print ISSN: 0144-8463
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2008 Biochemical Society
2008
Biosci Rep (2008) 28 (2): 97–106.
Article history
Received:
November 29 2007
Revision Received:
March 11 2008
Accepted:
April 02 2008
Accepted Manuscript online:
April 02 2008
Citation
Judy D. Ribaya-Mercado, Cherry C. Maramag, Lorena W. Tengco, Jeffrey B. Blumberg, Florentino S. Solon; Relationships of body mass index with serum carotenoids, tocopherols and retinol at steady-state and in response to a carotenoid-rich vegetable diet intervention in Filipino schoolchildren. Biosci Rep 1 April 2008; 28 (2): 97–106. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BSR20070045
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