REFERENCE VALUES FOR RETINOL, TOCOPHEROL, AND MAIN CAROTENOIDS IN SERUM OF CONTROL AND INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETIC SPANISH SUBJECTS

To establish reference ranges for use in clinical and epidemiological studies,we determined concentrations of retinol, alpha-tocopherol, bet a-carotene, alpha-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, an d lycopene in 450 Spanish control subjects and 123 Spanish patients wi th insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Results were grouped ac cording to sex, and samples were collected throughout the year. Concen trations of retinol were significantly lower and beta-carotene and alp ha-carotene were higher in women than in men, both in controls and IDD M subjects, whereas beta-cryptoxanthin concentrations were higher only in control women, Conditional logistic regression analysis showed tha t retinol, beta-carotene; and lycopene were the variables associated w ith diabetes;In comparison with other populations, our controls showed , in general, ordinary concentrations of retinol, comparatively low be ta-carotene and high beta-cryptoxanthin concentrations, and a relative ly high alpha-tocopherol/cholesterol ratio.