Many diverse carotenoids besides beta-carotene play
vital roles in maintaining good health, especially in protecting against
free radical damage. Yet, most Americans don't eat enough vegetables.
Carotenoids
capsule
Carotenoids carotene lycopene lutein zeaxanthin cryptoxanthin
beta-carotene health benefits
Carotenoids are a group of fat soluble pigments widely distributed in plants
and animals. Dietary carotenoids are thought to provide health benefits in decreasing the
risk of disease, particularly certain cancers and eye disease. The carotenoids that have
been most studied in this regard are beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin and
astaxanthin. In part, the beneficial effects of carotenoids are thought to be due to their
role as antioxidants. Beta-Carotene may have added benefits due its ability to be
converted to vitamin A.
Food sources of these compounds include a
variety of fruits and vegetables, although the primary sources of
Lycopene are tomato and
tomato products, along with watermelon. Lycopene has been found to reduce the risk of
prostate cancer. Egg yolk is a highly bioavailable source of
Lutein and zeaxanthin. Lutein
and zeaxanthin may be protective in eye disease because they absorb damaging blue light
that enters the eye. See lutein eye for
more information.
Carotenoids are available in supplement form.
However, intervention trials with large doses of beta-carotene found an adverse effect on
the incidence of lung cancer in smokers and workers exposed to asbestos. Until the
efficacy and safety of taking supplements containing these nutrients can be determined,
current dietary recommendations of diets high in fruits and vegetables are advised.
However, it is possible that a combination pill containing several carotenoids may be
preferable to taking a high dose of one carotenoid.
Carotenoids from vegetable juices are
able to enhance the immune system in those who normally have a low intake of carotenoids.
Carotenoids ingested as supplements
act as antioxidants, one such carotenoid is
Astaxanthin supplement. You can find carotenoids
in Eyesight
Rx, a product that helps with vision improvement.
Carotenoid complex 120 capsules - Now Foods
Many diverse carotenoids besides beta-carotene play
vital roles in maintaining good health, especially in protecting against
free radical damage. Yet, most Americans don't eat enough vegetables.
Click here to buy a Carotenoids supplement or to subscribe to a highly popular and FREE newsletter
Carotenoid study
Supplementation of a low-carotenoid diet with tomato or carrot juice modulates
immune functions in healthy men.
Watzl B. Haid-und-Neu-Strasse 9, DE-76131 Karlsruhe, Germany.
Ann Nutr Metab. 2003;47(6):255-61.
Beta-carotene has been shown to enhance immune functions in humans.
Whether vegetables rich in carotenoids, such as beta-carotene or lycopene,
modulate immune functions in healthy humans is presently not known. The
objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a low-carotenoid diet
supplemented with either tomato (providing high amounts of lycopene) or carrot
juice (providing high amounts of alpha- and beta-carotene) on immune functions
in healthy men. In a blinded, randomized, cross-over study, male
subjects on a low-carotenoid diet consumed 330 ml/day of either tomato juice
(37.0 mg/day lycopene) or carrot juice (27.1 mg/day beta-carotene and 13.1
mg/day alpha-carotene) for 2 weeks with a 2-week depletion period after juice
intervention. Immune status was assessed by measuring lytic activity of natural
killer (NK) cells, secretion of cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, TNFalpha), and
proliferation by activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Juice
consumption resulted in relatively fast responses in plasma carotenoid
concentrations which were not accompanied by concomitant changes in
immune functions. For IL-2, NK cell cytotoxicity, and lymphocyte proliferation,
maximum responses were observed during depletion periods. The highest production
rate was measured only for TNFalpha at the end of the first intervention period.
Juice intervention did not modulate the secretion of IL-4.
Increased plasma carotenoid concentrations after vegetable juice consumption are
accompanied by a time-delayed modulation of immune functions in healthy men
consuming a low-carotenoid diet.
Dietary supplementation with a natural carotenoid mixture
decreases oxidative stress.
Kiokias S, Gordon MH. The
University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, UK.
Eur J Clin Nutr. 2003 Sep;57(9):1135-40.
To determine whether dietary supplementation with a natural carotenoid mixture counteracts the enhancement of oxidative stress induced by
consumption of fish oil. DESIGN: A randomised double-blind crossover dietary
intervention. Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, School of Food
Biosciences, The University of Reading, Whiteknights PO Box 226, Reading RG6
6AP, UK. SA total of 32 free-living healthy nonsmoking
volunteers were recruited by posters and e-mails in The University of Reading.
One volunteer withdrew during the study. The volunteers consumed a daily
supplement comprising capsules containing fish oil (4 x 1 g) or fish oil (4 x 1
g) containing a natural carotenoid mixture (4 x 7.6 mg) for 3 weeks in a
randomised crossover design separated by a 12 week washout phase. The carotenoid
mixture provided a daily intake of beta-carotene (6.0 mg), alpha-carotene (1.4
mg), lycopene (4.5 mg), bixin (11.7 mg), lutein (4.4 mg) and paprika carotenoids
(2.2 mg). Blood and urine samples were collected on days 0 and 21 of each
dietary period. The carotenoid mixture reduced the fall in ex vivo
oxidative stability of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) induced by the fish oil
(P=0.045) and it reduced the extent of DNA damage assessed by the concentration
of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in urine (P=0.005). There was no effect on the
oxidative stability of plasma ex vivo assessed by the oxygen radical absorbance
capacity test. beta-Carotene, alpha-carotene, lycopene and lutein were increased
in the plasma of subjects consuming the carotenoid mixture. Plasma triglyceride
levels were reduced significantly more than the reduction for the fish oil
control (P=0.035), but total cholesterol, HDL and LDL levels were not
significantly changed by the consumption of the carotenoid mixture.
Consumption of the natural carotenoid mixture lowered the increase in oxidative
stress induced by the fish oil as assessed by ex vivo oxidative stability of LDL
and DNA degradation product in urine. The carotenoid mixture also enhanced the
plasma triglyceride-lowering effect of the fish oil.
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carotenoids carotene lycopene lutein zeaxanthin cryptoxanthin beta-carotene health benefits