Abstract
Relationship between serum levels of lipid peroxides and carotenoids among the subjects randomly selected from the residents living in T-city, Gifu (GT), T-town, Wakayama (TW), H-city Hiroshima (HH), S-town, Fukuoka (SF), and Y-town, Hokkaido (HY) was investigated cross-sectionally. It was demonstrated that serum levels of β-carotene or cryptoxanthin were higher for GT and HY residents or for WT residents, while serum levels of lipid peroxides estimated by the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) were lower for GT and HY residents, respectively. Moreover, there were some regional differences that serum levels of carotenoids such as β-carotene were inversely associated with serum TBARS levels for the residents, but not for HH residents with encumbrances of Japanese Americans. Serum TBARS levels were positively and significantly related with serum levels of n-3 unsaturated fatty acids such as icosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, which were high intake in Japanese, but not significantly with serum levels of n-6 unsaturated fatty acids such as arachidonic acid.
