Association between carotenoids and weight-adjusted waist index a cross-sectional study based on the national health and nutrition examination survey 2017-2018.

Purpose: The weight-adjusted waist index (WWI) is a novel method for assessing abdominal obesity, offering greater accuracy than do body mass index and waist circumference in determining lean and fat mass. Carotenoids, known for their antioxidant properties, can effectively neutralize free radicals. We aimed to examine the relationship between serum carotenoid levels and WWI.

Methods: Data used in this study were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2017 and 2018. Serum carotenoid levels were assessed via high-performance liquid chromatography. A multiple linear regression model was used to examine the correlation between serum carotenoid levels and WWI. Furthermore, potential nonlinear associations were identified using smooth curve fitting.

Principal Results: In this population-based survey, 3829 participants were included. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that the highest serum carotenoid tertile was significantly associated with lower WWI values. The effect sizes (β) and 95 % confidence intervals were -0.31 (-0.37, -0.24), -0.37 (-0.43, -0.31), -0.24 (-0.31, -0.18), and -0.28 (-0.34, -0.21) for α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, and lutein/zeaxanthin, respectively. Smoothed curve fitting showed that β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, and lutein/zeaxanthin exhibited a nonlinear relationship with WWI.

Major Conclusions: Several serum carotenoids were inversely associated with WWI in the general population of the United States, suggesting a potential protective role against abdominal obesity. However, further large-scale prospective studies are required to confirm these findings.