Dietary carotenoid intake is linked to type 2 diabetes risks in healthy men and women
Among the six common dietary carotenoids, consuming high levels of alpha- and beta-carotene leads to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes in healthy men and women
High levels of dietary carotenoids, especially beta-carotene and alpha-carotene, are associated with reduced type 2 diabetes risk in generally healthy men and women, suggest data from a prospective study published in Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases (25[4], 376–381).
To investigate the relationship between higher dietary carotenoid intakes and type 2 diabetes risk, and whether smoking modifies these associations, researchers analysed dietary carotenoid intake data collected in validated food frequency questionnaires from 37,846 participants of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-Netherlands (EPIC-NL) study.
The participants, 31% of which were smokers, were followed-up for a mean of 10 years.
Upon assessing dietary carotenoid intake levels consisting of beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin and the total of these six carotenoids, the results showed that higher dietary intakes of beta- and alpha-carotene were associated with reduced diabetes risk.
By contrast, dietary intakes of beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin were not associated with diabetes risk. Interestingly, smoking was not shown to modify any of these associations.
'This study shows us that among the six common dietary carotenoids, consuming high levels of alpha-carotene and beta-carotene leads to a reduction of type 2 diabetes risk in healthy men and women; at the same time, smoking status does not alter the benefit,' says Bryan See, Regional Product Manager, ExcelVite Inc.
'EVTene natural mixed carotenoid complex contains high levels of both alpha- and beta-carotene; in fact, it has the highest ratio of alpha-carotene in the market – making it the perfect ingredient for food fortification to deliver the necessary carotenoid intake to promote general health,' added Bryan.
