Carotenoid and tocopherol concentrations in plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and red blood cells after long-term beta-carotene supplementation in men

To determine the effects of long-term beta-carotene supplementation on concentrations of carotenoids and tocopherols in plasma and in blood cells, fasting blood was collected from 73 randomly selected physicians from the Boston area who are participating in the Physicians Health Study (PHS). The PHS is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. In 1982, 22 071 male physicians were assigned to one of four treatments (325 mg aspirin alone, 50 mg beta-carotene alone, both, or neither) every other day. Plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and red blood cells (RBCs) from physicians who have participated in the study for approximate to 12 y were analyzed for carotenoids and tocopherols. Compared with the placebo group, the supplemented group had higher beta-carotene concentrations in plasma (1.73 +/- 0.16 compared with 0.54 +/- 0.06 mu mol/L), RBCs (91.5 +/- 9.7 compared with 31.2 +/- 4.2 pmol/g hemoglobin), and PBMCs (61.6 +/- 10.3 compared with 15.5 +/- 2.5 pmol/10(7) cells). There were no differences in other carotenoids or tocopherols in plasma, RBCs, and PBMCs between these two groups. The beta-carotene-supplemented group had higher total carotenoids only in plasma. In both supplemented and placebo groups, plasma beta-carotene significantly correlated with both RBC and PBMC beta-carotene concentrations. Plasma cryptoxanthin correlated with both RBC and PBMC cryptoxanthin concentrations but plasma lycopene correlated only with PBMC lycopene concentrations. These data suggest that plasma may not be the best indicator of carotenoid status. Furthermore, long-term beta-carotene supplementation in men results in higher beta-carotene concentrations in plasma, RBCs, and PBMCs without lowering concentrations of other carotenoids or tocopherols.