Reported carotenoid intakes are weakly associated with markers of adiposity in US adults

Objective: Carotenoids are fat-soluble antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables (F&V). Carotenoid intake is associated with F&V consumption.Studies show an inverse relationship between F&V intake and body mass index (BMI); however, the relationship between carotenoids and markers of adiposity such as BMI, android fat (AF%) and gynoid fat (GF%) in population samples is not well understood. Our objective was to determine the association between reported carotenoid intakes and markers of adiposity in population samples.Methods:Data from NHANES 2003-2006 for 2,563 male and non-pregnant females 20-85 years of age included reported dietary intakes of β-carotene (BC), α-carotene (AC), β-cryptoxanthin (BCX), lycopene (LY), and lutein + zeaxanthin (LZ) and anthropometric data. Log-transformed values were used for carotenoids due to skewing. Associations were estimated by Pearson partial correlation adjusting for age, sex, and ethnicity. Multivariable linear regression estimated AF% and GF% based on reported dietary intake of AC adjusted for age, sex, and ethnicity. Results:The prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) was 30.9% with a mean and SE of 27.8± 0.2 kg/m2. AF% was 38.0±0.3% and GF%, 37.4±0.3%. Means and SEs for BC, AC, BCX, LY, and LZ were 828.8±1.1, 75.9±1.1, 42.9±1.1, 2,565.7±1.1, and 735.1±1.0μg, respectively.Moderate inverse correlations were found between AF% and all carotenoids except LY (p\u3c0.0001). The strongest associations were observed between AF% and AC (r= -0.12, p\u3c0.0001) and BCX (r=-0.11, p\u3c0.0001). Interestingly, only BCX and LZ showed associations to BMI (p\u3c0.05). No significant associations were found between markers of adiposity and LY.For adults of the same age, ethnicity, and sex, each 10 ug increase in reported AC decreased AF% by 0.43% (p=0.005).Conclusions: In a representative sample of US adults, reported intakes of AC and BCX were inversely associated with AF%, independent of total caloric intake