Carotenoids and oxidative stress markers in postmenopausal women
What it found
In postmenopausal women, higher levels of carotenoids in blood were linked to lower levels of a urinary marker of oxidative stress, but carotenoids eaten in food were not linked to any of the markers.
What they found
Studies in people
Plasma carotenoids and oxidative stress
Women with higher total carotenoids in their blood had lower levels of a urinary marker of oxidative stress called 8-iso-PGF2α-M. This was especially true for α-carotene and β-carotene.
Lutein/zeaxanthin and inflammation
Higher blood levels of lutein/zeaxanthin were linked to lower levels of both urinary markers measured. The authors say this may mean lutein/zeaxanthin has an extra anti-inflammatory effect.
Dietary carotenoids
Carotenoids eaten in food were not linked to any of the urinary oxidative stress markers.
Beta-carotene supplements
Women who took β-carotene supplements had lower levels of both urinary markers and both chemical and enzymatic 8-iso-PGF2α. Most women taking at least 1200 mcg per day took them daily.
Chronic disease differences
The link between α-carotene and the urinary marker was seen only in women who had a chronic disease such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, or cancer.
What the authors conclude
“Plasma carotenoids and supplemental β-carotene were associated with lower concentrations of 8-iso-PGF 2α metabolite.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that plasma carotenoids and supplemental β-carotene were associated with lower concentrations of 8-iso-PGF2α metabolite.
- They suggest that the associations of plasma carotenoids may reflect antioxidant effects.
- They say that plasma lutein/zeaxanthin might have additional anti-inflammatory effects.
How it was done
Carotenoids may protect against chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. The authors wanted to see how carotenoids relate to markers of these processes.
They studied 512 postmenopausal women from the Sister Study, a nationwide group of breast cancer-free women. They measured carotenoids in blood and diet, and oxidative stress markers in urine, at one point in time.
What it can’t tell you
- This study measured carotenoids and oxidative stress markers at the same time, so it cannot show whether carotenoids cause the changes in markers.
- The study included only postmenopausal women, so the findings may not apply to men or younger women.
- The study cannot prove that carotenoids reduce oxidative stress or inflammation in the body.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by NIEHS NIH HHS; Intramural NIH HHS; NIH HHS (from the PubMed record).
- Conflicts
- Conflicts of interest/Competing interests : None reported.
- Authors work at
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, USA; National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, USA; University of North Carolina, USA
The paper
- Title
- Association of dietary and plasma carotenoids with urinary F 2 -isoprostanes
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Park YM, Lilyquist J, Van't Erve TJ, et al (2022). Association of dietary and plasma carotenoids with urinary F 2 -isoprostanes. European journal of nutrition. doi:10.1007/s00394-022-02837-8Free full textPubMed 35253072DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error