Carotenoid Levels Inversely Related to Type II Diabetes

BRISBANE, Australia--Higher plasma levels of carotenoids have been linked to a reduced risk of diseases including cardiovascular disease and cancer; a new population study from Australia extends the benefits to Type II diabetes. In the multi-center study, 1,597 adults from six cities in Queensland, Australia, were examined for fasting plasma glucose, glucose-tolerance and serum concentrations of carotenoids. Two-hour postload plasma glucose and fasting insulin concentrations decreased significantly with increasing quintiles of serum alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein/zeaxanthin and lycopene. The levels of the carotenoids decreased significantly with declining glucose tolerance status, with beta-carotene showing the greatest correlation. Researchers concluded randomized trials of diets high in carotenoid-rich vegetables and fruit could help confirm the results and have important implications in the prevention of diabetes.

The study appeared in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (82, 3:685-93, 2005).

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