American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 57, 402-407, Copyright © 1993 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc

ORIGINAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

Effect of beta-carotene on immunological indexes in healthy male smokers

G van Poppel, S Spanhaak and T Ockhuizen
The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research, (TNO) Toxicology and Nutrition Institute, Zeist.

To evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of beta-carotene we performed a randomized, double-blind trial in healthy male cigarette smokers. Lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood were assessed by using double labeling with monoclonal antibodies before and after 14 wk beta- carotene (20 mg/d; n = 21) or placebo (n = 24) supplements. In addition we measured the ex vivo phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A induced lymphocyte proliferation in a separate group (23 placebo, 24 beta- carotene). The beta-carotene and placebo groups were comparable on all initial characteristics. During the intervention plasma concentrations of beta-carotene increased 13-fold in the treatment group whereas retinol concentrations remained constant. Beta-carotene had no effect on lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood. After treatment the beta-carotene group showed 12% higher PHA-induced lymphocyte proliferations than the placebo group (P = 0.02). For ConA induced proliferations no significant difference was observed. These results suggest that supplementary beta-carotene can moderately enhance certain aspects of immune response in healthy male cigarette smokers.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. Watzl, S. E Kulling, J. Moseneder, S. W Barth, and A. Bub A 4-wk intervention with high intake of carotenoid-rich vegetables and fruit reduces plasma C-reactive protein in healthy, nonsmoking men Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, November 1, 2005; 82(5): 1052 - 1058. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Bendich From 1989 to 2001: What Have We Learned About the "Biological Actions of Beta-Carotene"? J. Nutr., January 1, 2004; 134(1): 225S - 230. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. P. Erlinger, E. Guallar, E. R. Miller III, R. Stolzenberg-Solomon, and L. J. Appel Relationship Between Systemic Markers of Inflammation and Serum {beta}-Carotene Levels Arch Intern Med, August 13, 2001; 161(15): 1903 - 1908. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Gossage, M. Deyhim, P. B Moser-Veillon, L. W Douglas, and T. R Kramer Effect of {beta}-carotene supplementation and lactation on carotenoid metabolism and mitogenic T lymphocyte proliferation Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, April 1, 2000; 71(4): 950 - 955. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. E. REPINE, A. BAST, I. LANKHORST, and The Oxidative Stress Study Gro Oxidative Stress in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., July 1, 1997; 156(2): 341 - 357. [Full Text]