Role of Dietary Carotenoids in Frailty Syndrome: A Systematic Review
Roberta Zupo,
Fabio Castellana,
Sara De Nucci,
Annamaria Sila,
Simona Aresta,
Carola Buscemi,
Cristiana Randazzo,
Silvio Buscemi,
Vincenzo Triggiani,
Giovanni De Pergola,
Claudia Cava,
Madia Lozupone,
Francesco Panza,
Rodolfo Sardone
Affiliations
Roberta Zupo
Unit of Data Sciences and Technology Innovation for Population Health, National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy
Fabio Castellana
Unit of Data Sciences and Technology Innovation for Population Health, National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy
Sara De Nucci
Unit of Data Sciences and Technology Innovation for Population Health, National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy
Annamaria Sila
Unit of Data Sciences and Technology Innovation for Population Health, National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy
Simona Aresta
Unit of Data Sciences and Technology Innovation for Population Health, National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy
Carola Buscemi
Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Child Health, Internal and Specialty Medicine of Excellence (PROMISE), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Cristiana Randazzo
Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Child Health, Internal and Specialty Medicine of Excellence (PROMISE), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Silvio Buscemi
Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Child Health, Internal and Specialty Medicine of Excellence (PROMISE), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Vincenzo Triggiani
Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology, and Rare Disease, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy
Giovanni De Pergola
Unit of Geriatrics and Internal Medicine, National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy
Claudia Cava
Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology, National Research Council (IBFM-CNR), Via F. Cervi 93, 20131 Milan, Italy
Madia Lozupone
Department of Basic Medicine, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
Francesco Panza
Department of Basic Medicine, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
Rodolfo Sardone
Unit of Data Sciences and Technology Innovation for Population Health, National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy
Unbalanced diets and altered micronutrient intake are prevalent in the aging adult population. We conducted a systematic review to appraise the evidence regarding the association between single (α-carotene, β-carotene, lutein, lycopene, β-cryptoxanthin) or total carotenoids and frailty syndrome in the adult population. The literature was screened from study inception to December 2021, using six different electronic databases. After establishing inclusion criteria, two independent researchers assessed the eligibility of 180 retrieved articles. Only 11 fit the eligibility requirements, reporting five carotenoid entries. No exclusion criteria were applied to outcomes, assessment tools, i.e., frailty constructs or surrogates, recruitment setting, general health status, country, and study type (cohort or cross-sectional). Carotenoid exposure was taken as either dietary intake or serum concentrations. Cross-sectional design was more common than longitudinal design (n = 8). Higher dietary and plasma levels of carotenoids, taken individually or cumulatively, were found to reduce the odds of physical frailty markedly, and the evidence showed consistency in the direction of association across all selected studies. Overall, the methodological quality was rated from moderate (27%) to high (73%). Prevention of micronutrient deficiencies has some potential to counteract physical decline. Considering carotenoids as biological markers, when monitoring micronutrient status, stressing increased fruit and vegetable intake may be part of potential multilevel interventions to prevent or better manage disability.
