Carotenoids and heart risk markers in menopausal women
What it found
In 12 peri- and post-menopausal women, four weeks of carotenoid-rich juices and spinach raised blood carotenoid levels and changed several markers of heart and metabolic risk.
LDL cholesterol and the atherogenic index fell, HDL cholesterol rose, and some inflammation and oxidative stress markers improved.
What they found
Studies in people
Blood carotenoids rose
Plasma carotenoids increased significantly from 0.56 µg/mL at the start to 1.22 µg/mL at the end of the 4 weeks.
Cholesterol changes
LDL cholesterol and the atherogenic index decreased significantly, while HDL cholesterol increased.
Inflammation and oxidative stress
Plasma C-reactive protein and malonaldehyde levels decreased, and adiponectin increased.
Blood vessel markers unchanged
The endothelial dysfunction markers sVCAM and sICAM, and total antioxidant capacity, did not change after the intervention.
What the authors conclude
“dietary supplementation with carotenoids leads to an increase in plasma carotenoids, a decrease in atherogenic dyslipidemia, and an improvement in oxidative stress and inflammation biomarkers, which indicates a reduction in cardiometabolic risk.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that dietary supplementation with carotenoids leads to an increase in plasma carotenoids, a decrease in atherogenic dyslipidemia, and an improvement in oxidative stress and inflammation biomarkers.
- They state that this indicates a reduction in cardiometabolic risk.
How it was done
Peri- and post-menopausal women tend to gain weight and store more fat around the belly, which raises their risk of heart and metabolic problems. The authors wanted to see whether eating more carotenoids would change markers linked to that risk.
They recruited 12 peri- and post-menopausal women who had no history of heart disease but had at least one cardiometabolic risk factor. For 4 weeks the women's diets were supplemented with orange-carrot juice, tomato juice, and boiled spinach, giving 415 mg of total carotenoids per week. Blood samples were taken at the start and end to measure biochemical, oxidative stress, inflammation, and blood vessel markers, plus plasma carotenoid levels.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This was a small study of 12 women, so the results may not apply to all peri- and post-menopausal women.
- The study lasted only 4 weeks, so it cannot show what happens over a longer period.
- It cannot prove that carotenoids alone caused the changes, since other parts of the diet or lifestyle may have played a role.
The paper
- Title
- [Influence of dietary carotenoids on biomarkers of cardiometabolic risk in peri- and post-menopausal women]
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Tomás Luiz A, Martín Pozuelo G, González Navarro I, et al (2021). [Influence of dietary carotenoids on biomarkers of cardiometabolic risk in peri- and post-menopausal women]. Nutricion hospitalaria. doi:10.20960/nh.03624PubMed 34281348DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error