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. 2013 Jan 1:2013:619516.
doi: 10.5402/2013/619516.

Serum Retinol and Carotenoids in Association with Biomarkers of Insulin Resistance among Premenopausal Women

Stacy A Blondin  1 , Edwina H Yeung, Sunni L Mumford, Cuilin Zhang, Richard W Browne, Jean Wactawski-Wende, Enrique F Schisterman
Affiliations

Serum Retinol and Carotenoids in Association with Biomarkers of Insulin Resistance among Premenopausal Women

Stacy A Blondin et al. ISRN Nutr. .

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate how serum retinol and carotenoids (β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein/zeaxanthin, lycopene) are associated with biomarkers of insulin resistance.

Research methods and procedures: The BioCycle Study (2005-2007) is a prospective cohort of 259 healthy premenopausal women. Fasting serum samples were collected at up to sixteen clinic visits, from which retinol, carotenoids, insulin, glucose, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were measured. Insulin resistance was estimated by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Linear mixed models were used to determine associations adjusting for age, race, body mass index (BMI), education, smoking, physical activity, triglycerides, and energy intake.

Results: Retinol was positively associated with HOMA-IR (β = 0.19 (95% CI: 0.07, 0.32)) units per ug/mL increase in retinol; the relationship was driven by insulin (β = 0.20 (95% CI: 0.08, 0.31)). Retinol was inversely associated with SHBG (β = -0.22 (95% CI: -0.28, -0.16)). Although no significant associations were found between serum carotenoids and HOMA-IR, β-carotene was positively associated with SHBG and β-cryptoxanthin inversely with fasting plasma glucose.

Conclusion: Results indicate a possible role for serum retinol in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. However, they do not support a strong association between individual or total serum carotenoids and insulin resistance.

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