Appendix Table.

Association of H. pylori sero-prevalence by CagA status with blood carotenoid levels, by smoking status

	H. pylori−	H. pylori+, CagA−	H. pylori+, CagA+	Difference betweenH. pylori− andH. pylori+, CagA−		Difference betweenH. pylori− andH. pylori+, CagA+		Difference betweenH. pylori+, CagA− andH. pylori+, CagA+
	mean level (SE)a	mean level (SE)a	mean level (SE)a	P-valueb	Percent decrease	P-valueb	Percent decrease	P-valueb	Percent decrease
Total carotenoids, μg/dL
Current smokers	71.21 (1.11)	58.10 (1.09)	50.47 (1.07)	0.09	19.7%	0.01	28.6%	0.29	11.2%
Never and former smokers	72.25 (1.08)	74.35 (1.05)	64.38 (1.05)	0.75	−2.9%	0.22	10.9%	0.05	13.4%
Alpha-carotene, μg/dL
Current smokers	2.07 (1.17)	1.48 (1.13)	1.32 (1.12)	0.10	28.6%	0.03	36.1%	0.51	10.8%
Never and former smokers	2.30 (1.16)	2.39 (1.11)	2.07 (1.10)	0.82	−4.0%	0.56	10.0%	0.32	13.5%
Beta-carotene, μg/dL
Current smokers	10.63 (1.19)	6.41 (1.15)	5.50 (1.12)	0.02	39.7%	0.003	48.3%	0.41	14.3%
Never and former smokers	12.45 (1.15)	12.03 (1.10)	8.60 (1.10)	0.83	3.4%	0.04	30.9%	0.02	28.5%
Lycopene, μg/dL
Current smokers	33.4 (1.13)	28.2 (1.10)	22.6 (1.09)	0.28	15.7%	0.02	32.3%	0.11	19.7%
Never and former smokers	27.9 (1.10)	29.2 (1.08)	25.5 (1.07)	0.71	−4.8%	0.50	8.5%	0.20	12.7%
Lutein & zeaxanthin, μg/dL
Current smokers	14.9 (1.11)	13.4 (1.09)	13.2 (1.08)	0.43	10.2%	0.38	11.5%	0.91	1.4%
Never and former smokers	16.0 (1.08)	16.6 (1.05)	15.6 (1.05)	0.70	−3.5%	0.77	2.7%	0.41	6.1%
Beta-cryptoxanthin, μg/dL
Current smokers	6.49 (1.17)	4.71 (1.13)	4.54 (1.12)	0.11	27.3%	0.08	30.0%	0.83	3.7%
Never and former smokers	6.76 (1.11)	6.80 (1.08)	6.45 (1.07)	0.96	−0.6%	0.73	4.6%	0.62	5.1%

Abbreviation: SE, standard error

^aadjusted for age, race, sex, BMI, education, smoking, use of vitamin supplements, and total energy intake; for current smokers, also adjusted for average cigarettes smoked per day

^bfor absolute difference