Serum α-Carotene, but Not Other Antioxidants, Is Positively Associated with Muscle Strength in Older Adults: NHANES 2001-2002

Renata R Bruno; Fernanda C Rosa; Paula C Nahas; Flávia M S de Branco; Erick P de Oliveira

doi:10.3390/antiox11122386

Serum α-Carotene, but Not Other Antioxidants, Is Positively Associated with Muscle Strength in Older Adults: NHANES 2001-2002

Antioxidants (Basel). 2022 Dec 1;11(12):2386. doi: 10.3390/antiox11122386.

Authors

Renata R Bruno¹, Fernanda C Rosa¹, Paula C Nahas¹, Flávia M S de Branco¹, Erick P de Oliveira¹

Affiliation

¹ Laboratory of Nutrition, Exercise and Health (LaNES), School of Medicine, Federal University of Uberlandia (UFU), Av. Para, 1.720 Bloco 2U-Sala 20, Campus Umuarama, Uberlandia 38400902, MG, Brazil.

Abstract

Aging is associated with an increased reactive oxygen species that can decrease muscle strength. Thus, antioxidant substances could be positively associated with muscle strength in older adults. To investigate the association between serum antioxidants and muscle strength in older adults. A cross-sectional study evaluating 1172 individuals (627 men and 545 women), aged 50 to 85 years from NHANES 2001-2002, was performed. Carotenoids (α-carotene, trans-β-carotene, cis-β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein/zeaxanthin combination, trans-lycopene), vitamin E, and retinol were analyzed via the high-performance liquid chromatography method. Muscle strength was evaluated by the isokinetic knee extension test. Linear regression was performed to evaluate the association between tertiles of serum antioxidant levels and strength, adjusted for confounders (energy and protein intake, body mass index, sex, age, C-reactive protein, uric acid, race/ethnicity, marital status, annual household income, educational level, physical activity, smoking, hypertension, arthritis, and diabetes). Alpha-carotene levels (p-trend = 0.027) were positively associated with muscle strength. However, serum vitamin E, trans-β-carotene, cis-β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, carotenoids, and retinol levels were not associated with strength. Serum α-carotene, but not other antioxidants, was positively associated with muscle strength in older adults.

Keywords: aging; antioxidants; muscle strength.

Grants and funding

No sources of funding were used to assist in the article preparation. R.R.B. would like to thank “the National Development Council Scientific and Technological” (CNPq, Brazil, 2020–2021) for the financial support. We are thankful to “Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa e Pós-graduação” (PROPP) of the Federal University of Uberlandia for covering the costs to publish in open access.