Carotenoid Depletion in Serum of Young Type-1 Diabetics Fed Low-Carotenoid Diets

<i>Background/Aims:</i> Type-1 diabetics have been considered to be at risk for increased oxidative stress which has been implicated in the development of long-term diabetes complications. Evidence suggests that antioxidant activity may be an important mechanism by which carotenoids could confer protection in human health. Our aim was to compare the serum carotenoid depletion rate in type-1 diabetics and control subjects consuming low-carotenoid diets. <i>Methods:</i> Ten type-1 diabetics and 8 controls followed a very low-carotenoid diet for 21 days. Dietary intake was recorded daily and fasting blood samples collected at baseline and after 1, 2, 3, 6, 11, 15, 16, 17, and 21 days. Individual carotenoids in serum were analyzed by a validated HPLC method. <i>Results:</i> In both groups, carotenoid intake was less than 5% of the season-adjusted carotenoid reference intake. These diets resulted in decreased serum carotenoid levels in both groups, although depletion curves, final mean concentrations and the estimated half-life of carotenoids in serum revealed no differences between type-1 diabetics and controls. Levels of other minor serum carotenoids, cis-isomers and keto-carotenoids, also decreased whereas serum retinol and α- and γ-tocopherol did not change during the study. <i>Conclusion:</i> Upon a low-carotenoid intake, the depletion rate of carotenoids in serum in young type-1 diabetics does not differ from that observed in matched related controls.