Abstract
Serum levels of carotenoids, such as β-carotene, α-carotene, lycopene, cryptoxanthin, and zeaxanthin/lutein, and additionally the levels of retinol and α-tocopherol were investigated in the residents living in a southern area of Hokkaido. Serum β-carotene levels were lower for the residents with the history of hypertension and coronary heart disease, while the retinol and α-tocopherol levels were higher. Moreover, diastolic blood pressure was inversely associated with serum β-carotene levels by a multiple regression analysis. Serum levels of carotenes and xanthophylls were lower in males, while serum retinol levels were higher in males. In a age pair-matched analysis for the residents without habits of smoking and alcohol drinking, the levels of sex differences were 0.518 μmol/l (difference rate : 53.1%) for β-carotene, 0.052 μmol /l (40.0%) for α-carotene, 0.061 μmol/l (29.5%) for cryptoxanthin, and 0.271 μmol/l (8.7%) for retinol, respectively. In the multiple regression analyses, there was also a significant sex difference on serum carotenoid levels such as β-carotene having provitamin A acivity. It was suggested that a part of these sex differences might be caused by the certain physiological functions such as some sex-hormone related metabolism.
