Association between dietary carotenoid intakes and abdominal aortic calcification in adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013–2014

OBJECTIVE: Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) is an important marker of subclinical atherosclerosis and a predictor of cardiovascular disease. This study aims to explore the association between carotenoid intakes and AAC. METHODS: We included 2889 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Dietary carotenoid intakes were obtained through 24-h dietary recall interviews. Severe AAC was defined as a Kauppila score > 5. The main analysis utilizes logistic and restricted cubic spline models. RESULT: Severe AAC was detected in 378 (13.08%) participants. In fully adjusted models, the odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein with zeaxanthin and total carotenoid intakes for individuals with severe AAC were 0.53 (0.23-0.77), 0.39 (0.19-0.80), 0.18 (0.05-0.62), 0.40 (0.20-0.78), 0.53 (0.32-0.88) and 0.38 (0.18-0.77) in the highest versus lowest quartile intake, respectively. Dose-response analyses revealed that all of the carotenoids were associated with decreased risk of severe AAC in a nonlinear trend. Total carotenoid intakes of at least 100ug/kg/day were associated with decreased odds for severe AAC. CONCLUSION: α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein with zeaxanthin and total carotenoids were inversely associated with the risk of severe AAC in adults.