Plasma Retinol and Beta-Carotene Levels in 315 Surgical Patients

Encompassing 315 observations on 14 variables from a cross-sectional study of patients with non-cancerous lesions. It measures plasma concentrations of retinol and beta-carotene alongside personal characteristics and dietary factors like age, sex, smoking status, and calorie intake. The data was used to investigate determinants of micronutrient levels, with reported R^2 values of .38 for retinol and .50 for log beta-carotene models.

Use Cases

• Predict plasma retinol levels using AGE, SEX, and alcohol consumption data via multiple regression.
• Model log-transformed beta-carotene levels from dietary intake, VITUSE, and QUETELET index to assess dietary associations.
• Analyze the relationship between SMOKSTAT categories and plasma micronutrient concentrations.
• Investigate the impact of CALORIES and FAT intake on plasma retinol and beta-carotene variability.

Strengths

• Contains 315 patient observations, providing a sample for statistical analysis.
• Includes 14 variables covering demographic, lifestyle, and dietary determinants.
• Study design is explicitly described as a cross-sectional investigation of micronutrient determinants.
• Analyses reported specific R^2 values (.38 for retinol, .50 for beta-carotene) indicating model fit.

Limitations

• Sample size of 315 is moderate and limited to a specific patient population with non-cancerous lesions, limiting generalizability.
• Data source and collection date are unknown, raising concerns about temporal relevance and provenance.
• One extremely high leverage point in alcohol consumption was deleted prior to analysis, indicating potential data quality issues.

Provenance

Source

Unknown - Date unknown, referenced study by Nierenberg et al. 1989.

Collection Method

Cross-sectional study of patients who had an elective surgical procedure for non-cancerous lesions over a three-year period.

Time Range

Study conducted over a three-year period, specific dates unknown.