Plasma levels of lipophilic antioxidant vitamins in acute ischemic stroke patients: correlation to inflammation markers and neurological deficits

Objectives Acute ischemic stroke is a clinical condition accompanied by inflammation and oxidative stress. In this study, we compared levels of plasma lipophilic antioxidants and inflammation markers between patients with stroke and healthy controls and assessed the associations of antioxidants, inflammation markers, and neurologic deficits among patients with stroke. Methods We measured plasma levels of lipophilic antioxidant vitamins (retinol, lycopene, α-carotene, β-carotene, α-tocopherol, and γ-tocopherol), inflammation markers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP], fibrinogen, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and white blood cell count), and neurologic deficits (indicated by the score of the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale) in 68 patients with acute ischemic stroke within 48 h after stroke onset in comparison with 41 normal controls. Results Plasma α- and β-carotene concentrations were lower and levels of inflammation markers were higher among patients with acute ischemic stroke compared with normal controls. Levels of α- and β-carotene in patients with stroke were negatively associated with hs-CRP level (R = −0.29 and −0.41, respectively, P < 0.01) and with neurologic deficits (R = −0.28 and −0.27, respectively, P < 0.05). The negative association between neurologic deficits and combined plasma levels of α- and β-carotene remained after adjustment for age and sex (P = 0.04). However, the magnitude of association decreased after adjustment of hs-CRP (P = 0.08). Conclusion Plasma concentrations of α- and β-carotene are lower in patients with acute ischemic stroke than in healthy controls and are negatively correlated with hs-CRP level and neurologic deficits. The negative association between neurologic deficits and combined plasma α- and β-carotene levels is confounded by hs-CRP.