Plasma carotenoids in German children and adolescents

Carotenoids are important antioxidants and precursors of vitamin A, but only few studies have been carried out on plasma carotenoid levels in paediatric age groups. Using high-performance liquid chromatography we analysed concentrations of four important carotenoids (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, cryptoxanthin, lycopene) in 129 healthy German children and adolescents (81 boys, 48 girls; age 1-18 years). For all carotenoids analysed, no significant differences between girls and boys were found. alpha-Carotene values ranged from 0 mumol/l (below detection limits) to 0.73 mumol/l (0-395 micrograms/l), beta-carotene from 0.09 mumol/l to 2.68 mumol/l (48-1443 micrograms/l), lycopene from 0 mumol/l to 1.51 mumol/l (0-815 micrograms/l), and cryptoxanthin from 0 mumol/l to 0.30 mumol/l (0-164 micrograms/l), respectively. Data analyses according to age groups showed a tendency towards higher levels of alpha- and beta-carotene, and lower levels of lycopene in young children. These differences were significant when children younger than 4 years were compared with those above 8 and 12 years, respectively. The data presented may serve as reference values for studies on children with nutritional disorders and diseases associated with a risk of vitamin deficiencies.

Carotenoids are important antioxidants and singlet oxygen scavengers. Plasma levels of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene and cryptoxanthin were determined in 129 healthy German children and adolescents. Highest values were found for beta-carotene and lycopene.