Plasma carotenoids are biomarkers of long-term high vegetable intake in women with breast cancer

We investigated predictors Df change in plasma carotenoids from baseline to 3 y and examined plasma carotenoid concentrations at 1 and 3 y in response to a high vegetable diet. Participants were 56 women diagnosed with breast cancer and enrolled in a randomized feasibility study for a trial examinin g the effect of a diet high in vegetables and fruits on the risk of breast cancer recurrence. Independent t test analysis revealed that the interventi on group had significantly higher vegetable and fruit servings and fiber at 12 mo and significantly higher vegetable servings at 36 mo compared with t he control group (P < 0.05). Energy intake from fat was significantly lower in the intervention group at 12 and 36 mo. The intervention group had sign ificantly higher consumption of beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lutein and b eta-cryptoxanthin at 12 mo (P < 0.05). beta-Carotene, alpha-carotene and lu tein intakes also were significantly higher at 36 mo (P < 0.05). At 36 mo,t he intervention group had significantly higher plasma concentrations of alp ha-carotene and beta-carotene compared with the control group. Repeated-mea sures ANOVA revealed that the intervention group had significantly increase d (P < 0.05 with Bonferroni correction) plasma beta-carotene, alpha-caroten e, lutein and lycopene concentrations at 12 and 36 mo compared with baselin e. Baseline carotenoid concentrations were significantly inversely predicti ve (P < 0.05) of plasma carotenoid change. In addition, change in body mass index (BMI) and plasma cholesterol concentrations were predictive of plasm a carotenoid change from baseline to 3 y. Results of this study demonstrate that change in plasma carotenoid concentrations is associated with change in BMI, change in plasma cholesterol and baseline carotenoid concentrations . Plasma carotenoid response can be an indicator of long-term high vegetabl e intake for women at risk of breast cancer recurrence.