Frequent Hard Physical Activity Lowered Serum β-Carotene Level in a Population Study of a Rural City of Japan

Abstract

TAKATSUKA, N., KAWAKAMI, N., OHWAKI, A., ITO, Y., MATSUSHITA, Y., IDO, M. and SHIMIZU, H. Frequent Hard Physical Activity Lowered Serum β-Carotene Level in a Population Study of a Rural City of Japan. Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 1995, 176 (3), 131-135-To determine the effect of physical activity on serum β-carotene, we analyzed data about life styles including 3-day food records and blood samples collected from 57 men and 74 women in a rural city of Japan. Physical activity was asked as mean frequency of hard physical activities per week last year. A declining trend in serum β-carotene was observed with increasing frequency of hard physical activities in men. In multiple regression analyses, the frequency of hard physical activities showed a negative partial correlation coefficient (r=-0.38, p=0.007) with serum β-carotene in men when controlled b yage, BMI (body mass index), dietary factors (carotene intake, alcohol consumption and vitamin supplements use), smoking status, serum total cholesterol and serum triglycerides. These results suggest that frequent hard physical activity decreases serum β-carotene especially in men.