Plasma carotenoids in relation to food consumption in Granada (southern Spain) and Malmo (southern Sweden)

We conducted a cross-sectional pilot study on healthy pre-menopausal women (aged 45-50 years) living in Granada, in the south of Spain (n = 39) and Ma lmo, in the south of Sweden (n = 38) in order to compare their plasma carot enoid levels and to investigate the relationship between the differences in food consumption. Plasma concentrations of six carotenoids were measured u sing high performance liquid chromatography, habitual diet (at individual l evel) was estimated by food frequency questionnaires and 24-hour diet recal ls were used for standardised measurement of diet at group-level. We found that women in Granada consumed more fruit and vegetables than wome n in Malmo. Plasma concentrations of beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, zeaxanth in, total carotenoids and alpha-tocopherol were higher in Granada than in M almo, although plasma concentrations of alpha-carotene and retinol were hig her in Malmo. Both within and between study centres, consumption of fruit a nd vegetables correlated positively with plasma concentrations of different carotenoids. The study showed that differences in consumption of fruit and vegetables between the two European centres were reflected in plasma carot enoid concentrations.