The correlation between two dietary assessments of carotenoid intake and plasma carotenoid concentrations: application of a carotenoid food-composition database

Am J Clin Nutr. 1993 Oct;58(4):519-24. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/58.4.519.

Abstract

A newly available carotenoid food-composition database providing specific carotenoid values for > 2300 foods was linked to dietary data on 57 male nonsmokers to examine the association between dietary carotenoid intake and plasma carotenoid concentrations over 3 wk when free-living. Carotenoid intake was estimated from a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and 7 d of food diaries with concurrent analysis of plasma carotenoid concentrations. After adjustment for energy intake, percentage of energy from alcohol, and plasma lipid concentrations, significant diet-plasma correlations for the FFQ and the food diaries (FD) included alpha-carotene (r = 0.29 and 0.43), beta-carotene (r = 0.36 FFQ only), beta-cryptoxanthin (r = 0.46 and 0.44), lutein (r = 0.44 FD only), and lycopene (r = 0.53 FD only). Dietary carotenoid intakes were associated with plasma carotenoid concentrations for all the carotenoids except for beta-carotene when food diaries were used whereas the diet-plasma correlation for the provitamin A carotenoids were consistently significant when the FFQ was used.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Carotenoids / administration & dosage*
  • Carotenoids / blood*
  • Databases, Factual
  • Diet Records
  • Diet*
  • Food Analysis
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

  • Carotenoids