Beta-carotene, cell aging markers and Alzheimer's in older people
What it found
In 68 older people, higher beta-carotene levels in blood went with higher telomerase activity, and people with Alzheimer's had lower beta-carotene and shorter telomeres than healthy controls.
What they found
Studies in people
Beta-carotene and telomerase
Across all the people studied, beta-carotene was positively linked to telomerase activity, and this held regardless of gender. A model adjusting for age, gender and smoking confirmed beta-carotene was independently associated with telomerase activity.
Alzheimer's and beta-carotene
People with Alzheimer's disease had significantly lower beta-carotene levels in blood than healthy controls (448 ± 66 mg/ml vs 497 ± 59 mg/ml).
Alzheimer's and telomere length
People with Alzheimer's disease also had significantly shorter leucocyte telomere length than healthy controls (0.53 ± 0.25 vs 0.69 ± 0.29).
Beta-carotene and diagnosis
Beta-carotene level in blood was associated with an Alzheimer's diagnosis, independent of age, gender, smoking, ApoE genotype and telomere length.
What the authors conclude
“Our data show that β-carotene may modulate telomerase activity in old age.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say their data show that beta-carotene may modulate telomerase activity in old age.
- They report that lower plasma beta-carotene levels, which correlate with peripheral telomerase activity, are associated with Alzheimer's disease diagnosis independent of multiple covariates.
How it was done
Advancing age is the strongest risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, and the authors wanted to find markers that tell normal aging apart from Alzheimer's, with telomeres seen as a promising target. They note that carotenoid-rich food may protect telomeres by reducing oxidative stress, and that low blood beta-carotene has been found in people with Alzheimer's.
They measured beta-carotene levels in blood, leucocyte telomere length and telomerase activity in peripheral cells in 68 older people: 37 with Alzheimer's disease and 31 age-matched healthy controls.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This kind of study looks at people at one point in time, so it can show a link but not that low beta-carotene causes Alzheimer's or shorter telomeres.
- It cannot show whether eating more beta-carotene would change telomerase activity or Alzheimer's risk.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- University of Perugia, Italy; University of Milan, Italy
The paper
- Title
- Beta-carotene, telomerase activity and Alzheimer's disease in old age subjects
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Boccardi V, Arosio B, Cari L, et al (2020). Beta-carotene, telomerase activity and Alzheimer's disease in old age subjects. European journal of nutrition. doi:10.1007/s00394-019-01892-yPubMed 30649596DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error