The Homeostasis Model Assessment-insulin Resistance Index Is Inversely Associated with Serum Carotenoids in Non-diabetic Subjects

Abstract

BACKGROUND Carotenoids may reduce the risk for diabetes mellitus, but little is known about the association of insulin resistance with serum carotenoids in non-diabetic subjects. This study aimed to investigate whether the homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index would be lower in the presence of high serum carotenoid concentrations in non-diabetic subjects. METHODS A total of 812 subjects (256 males and 556 females) who had received health examinations in 2003 participated in the study. The associations of the serum-carotenoid concentrations and HOMA-IR were evaluated cross-sectionally. The multivariate-adjusted geometric means of HOMA-IR by the tertiles of the serum carotenoid concentration were calculated after adjusting for age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, current tobacco use, regular alcohol intake, exercise habits and total energy intake. Associations among high HOMA-IR (3.0+ mU×mmol/L 2 ) across tertiles of serum carotenoid concentration were assessed by tests for logistic regression analysis. RESULTS In male subjects, the multivariate adjusted geometric mean of HOMA-IR was inversely associated with the serum β -cryptoxanthin concentrations. In female subjects, an inverse association of the serum carotenoid concentration and HOMA-IR was observed in lycopene, β -cryptoxanthin, and zeaxanthin. The confounding factor-adjusted odds ratios (OR) for high HOMA-IR on the highest tertiles of serum α -carotene, β -carotene, β -cryptoxanthin, and zeaxanthin were 0.18 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.06-0.52], 0.22 (95% CI: 0.07-0.67), 0.34 (95% CI: 0.12-0.96), and 0.30 (95% CI: 0.11-0.79), respectively, in male subjects. On the other hand, in female subjects, the adjusted OR for high HOMA-IR on the highest tertiles of serum lycopene and β -cryptoxanthin were 0.39 (95% CI: 0.21-0.73) and 0.51 (95% CI: 0.28-0.95), respectively. CONCLUSIONS The serum antioxidant carotenoids were inversely associated with HOMA-estimated insulin resistance in non-diabetic subjects.

Lycopene supplementation elevates circulating insulin-like growth factor–binding protein-1 and -2 concentrations in persons at greater risk of colorectal cancer

“…Exclusion of these women did not significantly change the IGFBP-1 results for the total group (24.4%; P ҃ 0.01), but it did strengthen the IGFBP-2 results (13.0%; 95% CI: 0.0%, 26.0%). Thus, the increase in IGFBP-1 in women is likely to be the result of a direct lycopene effect and is unlikely to be mediated by a decrease in insulin concentrations, which have previously been inversely associated with lycopene concentrations (39,40). Although the effect of short-term fasting on IGFBP-2 is still controversial, we also observed a high interindividual variation in IGFBP-2 effects that were due to lycopene supplementation in both men and women.…”

Relationship of serum carotenoid concentrations with allostatic load as a measure of chronic stress among middle-aged adults in the USA

“…conditions of increased oxidative stress and inflammation (38,(58)(59)(60) . Our findings are consistent with the results of other studies showing an inverse association of serum b-carotene with abnormalities in individual AL biomarkers, including abdominal obesity (40) , BMI (38) , insulin resistance (44) , hypertension (40) and CRP (39,41,43) .…”

Beta-Cryptoxanthin, Plentiful in Japanese Mandarin Orange, Prevents Age-Related Cognitive Dysfunction and Oxidative Damage in Senescence-Accelerated Mouse Brain

“…47) Using the data from this population, they found some inverse associations of serum b-CRX with risks for insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and atherosclerosis. [48][49][50][51] In addition, the serum levels of carotenoids have been reported to be inversely associated with all-cause mortality 52) and lung cancer. 53) These epidemiological studies support the beneficial effect of b-CRX on a healthy life span.…”