Determinants of serum levels of retinol, β-carotene and α-tocopherol in men and women born in Australia, Greece and Italy

Serum retinol, β-carotene and α-tocopherol levels were measured in a volunteer sample of 764 Australian-, Greek- and Italian-born adult residents of Melbourne, Australia. There was no difference among the ethnic groups in mean levels of serum retinol or α-tocopherol. Mean β-carotene levels were between 11 and 22% higher for Australian-born subjects. Serum β-carotene was higher in females, retinol was higher in males. The serum levels of retinol, β-carotene and α-tocopherol were significantly positively associated with serum cholesterol. Serum triglyceride was positively associated with serum retinol and α-tocopherol but negatively associated with serum -β-carotene. A positive association with retinol and an inverse association with β-carotene was found for alcohol consumption. Serum α-tocopherol was positively associated with dietary vitamin E. Serum β-carotene was correlated with carotene intake among subjects who had never smoked. Serum retinol increased with age in women only. These data provide a degree of cross-cultural robustness to previous findings in regard to the determinants of serum retinol, β-carotene and α-tocopherol in healthy men and women.