What does beta-carotene do for humans?
It gives yellow and orange fruits and vegetables their rich hues. Beta-carotene is also used to color foods such as margarine. In the body, beta-carotene converts into vitamin A (retinol). We need vitamin A for good vision and eye health, for a strong immune system, and for healthy skin and mucous membranes.
How do carotenoids promote good health and protect the body from cancer risk?
Antioxidants protect cells from free radicals, or substances that destroy or damage cell membranes. Increasing carotenoids via your diet can increase the amount of antioxidants and protective cells in your body. This is significant when battling cancer and may be able to prevent cancer growth.
What diseases are prevent with the consumption of carotenoids?
Abstract. In addition to his many research achievements, James Allen Olson made important contributions to evaluations of the role of dietary carotenoids in prevention of chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease and age-related macular degeneration in well-nourished populations.
How does beta-carotene help the immune system?
Beta-Carotene: Beta-carotene is a powerful antioxidant that can reduce inflammation and boost immune function by increasing disease-fighting cells in the body. Excellent sources include sweet potatoes, carrots, and green leafy vegetables.
How do carotenoids protect the human eye?
Carotenoids such as lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin are mainly found in the macula in the center of the retina and absorb up to 90% of blue light. The absorption of this light can reduce the oxidative damage that occurs to this essential part of the eye.
How does beta-carotene prevent cancer?
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends against beta-carotene or vitamin E supplements for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or cancer (33). Beta-carotene has strong antioxidant effects, and protects lipid peroxidation and provitamin-A activity, thereby preventing oxidative damage (34).
How does beta-carotene act as an antioxidant?
Beta-carotene is a type of carotenoid. Carotenoids are pigments that give fruits and vegetables their bright colors. Once eaten, beta-carotene is either converted into vitamin A or acts as a powerful antioxidant to help fight free radicals that attack cells in your body.
How do Carotenoids act as antioxidants?
Carotenoids are pigments which play a major role in the protection of plants against photooxidative processes. They are efficient antioxidants scavenging singlet molecular oxygen and peroxyl radicals. According to their structure most carotenoids exhibit absorption maxima at around 450 nm.
How does carotenoids boost immune system?
β-Carotene and other carotenoids have been reported to possess immunomodulatory activities in humans and animals. These carotenoids enhance lymphocyte blastogenesis, increase the population of specific lymphocyte subsets, increase lymphocyte cytotoxic activity, and stimulate the production of various cytokines.
What is the role of carotenoids in human health?
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. Furthermore, lutein and zeaxanthin may be protective in eye disease because they absorb damaging blue light that enters the eye.
Are there any carotenoids that are bioavailable?
Additionally, egg yolk is a highly bioavailable source of lutein and zeaxanthin. These 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.
What foods are the best sources of carotenoids?
Food sources of these compounds include a variety of fruits and vegetables, although the primary sources of lycopene are tomato and tomato products. Additionally, egg yolk is a highly bioavailable source of lutein and zeaxanthin. These carotenoids are available in supplement form.
