Associations of Serum Carotenoids with DXA-Derived Body Fat and Fat Distribution in Chinese Adults: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Background: Most previous studies have examined the associations between carotenoids and anthropometrics with cross-sectional designs. Few studies have investigated the associations between serum carotenoids and fat mass and fat distribution (general vs central type).

Objective: This study aimed to explore the associations of serum carotenoids with body fat and fat distribution in Chinese adults.

Design: Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of a prospective, community-based cohort were performed.

Participants/setting: There were 4,048 participants aged 40 to 75 years recruited in the Guangzhou Nutrition and Health Study from 2008 to 2013.

Main outcome measures: Serum carotenoids were assessed at baseline. Anthropometrics, fat mass (FM), and percentage FM (%FM) over the total body, trunk, limbs, and android and gynoid regions were obtained by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry for 3,002 participants between 2011 and 2013 and for 2,537 participants after 3.1 years.

Statistical analysis: Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were performed to compare the mean differences in adiposity indices among the quartiles of carotenoids.

Results: Covariance analyses showed significant inverse associations between serum total carotenoid levels and adiposity indices cross-sectionally (all P trends<0.05). The percentage mean differences in quartile 4 (vs 1) in FM and %FM were much more pronounced in the trunk (-15.4% and -7.74%) and android area (-16.6% and -8.59%) than those in the limbs (-8.31% and -4.51%) and gynoid area (-7.76% and -2.71%) (all P<0.001). Longitudinal results revealed that higher total carotenoids were associated with significantly lower 3-year increases in body mass index (calculated as kg/m²); waist circumference; waist-to-hip ratio; body FM in the limbs and android and gynoid area; and %FM in total body, trunk, and limbs (all P trends<0.05). Regarding individual carotenoids, β-carotene tended to have the most notable beneficial associations with the majority of fat indices, especially for cross-sectional analyses.

Conclusions: Serum carotenoid concentrations are inversely associated with body fat, especially in the abdominal region, in Chinese adults.

Keywords: Abdominal; Body fat; Carotenoids; Fat distribution; Prospective.