β-Carotene Concentration and Its Association with Inflammatory Biomarkers in Spanish Schoolchildren

Abstract

Aim: To examine the correlation between inflammatory biomarkers and plasma β-carotene levels in children. Methods: A total of 564 Spanish schoolchildren aged 9-12 were observed and studied. Plasma β-carotene levels were assessed by HPLC. A β-carotene level <4.83 µg/dL (0.09 µmol/L) was considered deficient. Plasma tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured by immunoenzyme assays. Serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was tested by immunonephelometry. Results: Subjects who were β-carotene-deficient (23.1% of the studied children) had higher IL-6 levels than subjects with normal β-carotene concentrations. The log-IL-6 and log-hs-CRP concentrations, but not the log-TNF-α level, were strongly and inversely related to the plasma log-β-carotene level (taking into account log-age, energy intake, log-triglycerides, gender, log-body mass index, log-β-carotene intake, energy from lipids and cholesterol as covariables). When the 3 inflammatory biomarkers were introduced into the regression model along with the corresponding covariables, only the log-IL-6 level was related to the plasma log-β-carotene level (β = -0.505 ± 0.078; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Inflammatory status, in particular IL-6 levels, appears to be negatively associated with plasma β-carotene levels in schoolchildren.

Physical activity practice and sports preferences in a group of Spanish schoolchildren depending on sex and parental care: a gender perspective

“…An adapted physical activity daily questionnaire [22] [see Additional File 2], which has been previously used in other studies [23][24][25], was filled out by the parents about their children. Questions find the time spent during weekdays and weekends in different kind of physical activities (including active play and extracurricular sport classes, physical education and daily life activities) and sedentary behaviors (including watching TV, playing videogames, tablet or computer use).…”

The Role of β-Carotene in Colonic Inflammation and Intestinal Barrier Integrity

“…Additionally, by administrating β-carotene- 14 C intraduodenally, Crain et al reported that appreciable amounts of β-carotene was converted to ATRA in the rat intestinal mucosa ( 15 ), highlighting the possibility that both β-carotene and ATRA could be bioactive compounds that affected the homeostasis of the gastrointestinal (GI) system. Another study showed that subjects containing lower levels of β-carotene had increased levels of CRP and interleukin-6 (IL-6) ( 16 ), an inflammatory cytokine that contributes to the pathogenesis of various GI diseases ( 17 , 18 ). Furthermore, multiple mechanistic studies were conducted to explore the signaling pathways involved in the anti-inflammatory activity of β-carotene.…”

A biochemical approach to the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiapoptotic potential of beta-carotene as a protective agent against bromobenzene-induced hepatotoxicity in female Wistar albino rats

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