Table 4

Relationships between plasma carotene concentrations and lung function levels and annual rate of change*


Quartiles
FEV1
95%CI
FVC
95%CI

Level at entry into program (ml)
Q1
0

0


Q2
21.4
-3.2,46.1
0.06
-31.4,31.6

Q3
47.8
19.1,76.4
30.6
-5.8,67.0

Q4
67.3
38.0,96.6
59.5
22.6,96.5

Annual change (ml/year)
Q1
0
0
0
0

Q2
-1.1
-6.5,4.3
3.04
-3.8-9.9

Q3
-6.0
-12.3,0.3
-6.6
-14.6-1.5

Q4
-9.3
-16.0,-2.7
-8.3
-16.8-0.1

Adjusted for age, sex, height, asbestos exposure and smoking history.

Quartile 1: Carotene concentrations lower than 0.45 μmol/L; Quartile 2: concentrations more than 0.45 and less than 0.8 μmol/L; quartile 3: concentrations more than 0.8 and less than 1.3; and quartile 4: concentrations equal or greater than 1.3 μmol/L.

Alfonso et al. Nutrition Journal 2005 4:16   doi:10.1186/1475-2891-4-16