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Inter-ethnic differences in drug handling and frequencies of pharmacogenetic variants are increasingly being characterized. In this study, we systematically assessed the feasibility of inferring ethnic trends in chemotherapy outcomes from inter-ethnic differences in pharmacogenetic variant frequencies. Frequencies of 51 variants and chemotherapy outcomes of East Asian and Caucasian colorectal cancer patients on standard chemotherapy regimens were summarized by meta-analyses, and variant frequencies were validated by MassARRAY analysis. Inferences of relative chemotherapy outcomes were made by considering minor allele function and population differences in their frequency. Significant population differences in genotype distributions were observed for 13/23 (60%) and 27/35 (77%) variants in the meta-analyses and validation series, respectively. Across chemotherapy regimens, East Asians had lower rates of grade 3/4 toxicity for diarrhea and stomatitis/mucositis than Caucasians, which was correctly inferred from 13/18 (72%, P=0.018) informative genetic variants. With appropriate variant selection, inferring relative population toxicity rates from population genotype differences may be relevant.

Skin carotenoids status (SCS) measured by resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS) may serve as an emerging alternative measurement for dietary carotenoids, fruits and vegetables (FV) intake although its application had not been assessed in a middle-aged and older population in Asia. This cross-sectional study aims to concurrently examine the use of SCS and plasma carotenoids to measure FV and carotenoids intake in a middle-aged and older population, taking into consideration potential socio-demographic and nutritional confounders. The study recruited 103 middle-aged and older adults (mean age: 58 years) in Singapore. Dietary carotenoids and FV, plasma carotenoids concentration and SCS were measured using 3-day food records, HPLC and a biophotonic scanner which utilised RRS respectively. Adjusted for statistically defined sociodemographic covariates sex, age, BMI, prescription medication and cigarette smoking, plasma carotenoids and SCS showed positive associations with dietary total carotenoids (βplasma: 0.020 (95% CI: 0.000, 0.040) µmol L-1/mg, P = 0.05; βskin: 265 (23, 506) a.u./mg, P = 0.03) and FV (βplasma: 0.076 (0.021, 0.132) µmol L-1/FV serving, P = 0.008; βskin: 1036 (363, 1708) a.u./FV serving, P = 0.003). The associations between SCS with dietary carotenoids, fruits and vegetables intake were null with the inclusion of dietary poly-unsaturated fatty acids, fiber and vitamin C as nutritional covariates (P > 0.05). This suggests a potential influence of these nutritional factors on carotenoids circulation and deposition in the skin. In conclusion, SCS, like plasma carotenoids may serve as a biomarker for both dietary carotenoids and FV intake in a middle-aged and older Singaporean population.

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Abstract

Carotenoids are natural pigments generally with a polyene chain consisting of 9–11 double bonds. In recent years, there has been increasing research interest in carotenoids because of their protective roles in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). While the consumption of carotenoids may have a beneficial effect on CVDs, the literature shows inconsistencies between carotenoid consumption and reductions in the risk of CVDs. Therefore, this review aims to provide a summary of the association between dietary carotenoid intake and the risk of CVDs from published epidemiological studies. Meanwhile, to further elucidate the roles of carotenoid intake in CVD protection, this review outlines the evidence reporting the effects of carotenoids on cardiovascular health from randomized controlled trials by assessing classical CVD risk factors, oxidative stress, inflammatory markers and vascular health-related parameters, respectively. Given the considerable discrepancies among the published results, this review underlines the importance of bioavailability and summarizes the current dietary strategies for improving the bioavailability of carotenoids. In conclusion, this review supports the protective roles of carotenoids against CVDs, possibly by attenuating oxidative stress and mitigating inflammatory response. In addition, this review suggests that the bioavailability of carotenoids should be considered when evaluating the roles of carotenoids in CVD protection.

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