July 5 (UPI) -- A recent study by researchers at Linkoping University in Sweden suggests that lutein, a nutrient found in highly colored fruits and vegetables, may suppress inflammation.
Prior studies have shown that diet influences inflammatory processes in the body. Inflammation is considered a key factor in numerous types of coronary artery disease including angina and myocardial infarction.
"A considerable number of patients who have experienced myocardial infarction still have low-level chronic inflammation in the body, even after receiving effective treatment with revascularization, drugs and lifestyle changes. We know that chronic inflammation is associated with a poorer prognosis," Lena Jonasson, professor in the Department of Medical and Health Sciences and consultant in cardiology, said in a news release.
Other studies have investigated the relationship between carotenoids, a large group of fat-soluble natural coloring agents in plants, and inflammation. Previous studies have shown that the levels of carotenoids are inversely correlated with inflammation markers.
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In this recent Swedish study, researchers measured levels of six of the most common carotenoids in blood from 193 patients with coronary artery disease, along with the level of inflammation in the blood by using the inflammation marker interleukin-6, or IL-6.
Researchers found lutein was the only carotenoid whose level was linked with IL-6 and the higher the level of lutein, the lower the level of IL-6.
"Our study confirms that one particular carotenoid, lutein, can suppress long-term inflammation in patients with coronary artery disease," Rosanna Chung, postdoctoral student at the Department of Medical and Health Sciences at Linkoping University, said. "We have also shown that lutein is absorbed and stored by the cells of the immune system in the blood."
Researchers collected cells of the immune system from the blood of patients with coronary artery disease and found that the inflammatory activity of the cells was significantly lower when treated with lutein.
The study was published in the July edition of Atherosclerosis.
