Abstract
The relationship between serum levels of carotenoids, retinol or α-tocopherol and serum lipid peroxide levels in the inhabitants (334 males and 551 females ; aged from 40y to 83y) living in a Y town of the southern Hokkaido was investigated. In the residents with hypertention, serum levels of lipid peroxides and α-tocopherol were higher than in the subjects without hypertension, but those of carotenoids such as β-carotene and cryptoxanthin were lower. The systolic and diastolic blood pressures were inversely and significantly associated with serum levels of provitamin A such as β-carotene and cryptoxanthin in the healthy residents without diseases. There was a significant inverse-relation between serum levels of lipid peroxides and carotenoids or α-tocopherol, but not retinol. In the multiple regression analyses, serum levels of lipid peroxides were inversely and significatnly associated with order of α-tocopherol < zeaxanthin/lutein <α-carotene < cryptoxanthin < β-carotene < lycopene. In contrast, serum SOD activities were inversely associated with serum levels of α-tocopherol and retinol, but not with serum carotenoid levels. It seems that α-tocopherol and carotenoids such as β-carotene and cryptoxanthin may have a role of reducing lipid peroxidation through the interaction among each other.
