2. Introduction
• The carotenoids are
polyisoprenoid compounds
produced by plants for the
purposes of harvesting light for
photosynthesis and quench free
radicals, thereby protecting
against oxidative stress.
28.4.2018. Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental
Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier
Inc. 2008.
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3. Food
Most non-provitamin A
carotenoids are
pigments occurring in
red, yellow and orange-
colored plant tissues.
28.4.2018. Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental
Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier
Inc. 2008.
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4. Major non-provitamin A
carotenoids
Lycopene Lutein
Zeaxanthin Canthaxanthin
28.4.2018. Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental
Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier
Inc. 2008.
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5. Utilization
Enteric absorption is
effected by micelle-
dependent diffusion and are
subject to the antagonistic
effects of binding to heat-
labile food proteins.
28.4.2018. Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental
Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier
Inc. 2008.
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7. Lycopene
• A recent review of epidemiological
findings indicated some evidence for
a protective association of lycopene
intake and lung cancer.
• One study found patients with the
precancerous lesion, oral leukoplakia,
to respond in a dose-dependent
manner to lycopene supplementation.
28.4.2018. Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental
Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier
Inc. 2008.
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8. Lycopene
• Studies with prostate
cancer cells in culture have
shown to be sensitive to
lycopene: cell cycle arrest
and apoptosis.
28.4.2018. Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental
Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier
Inc. 2008.
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9. Lycopene
• Oral lycopene treatment
significantly reduced the
incidence of preeclampsia (47%),
diastolic pressure (5.5 mm Hg)
and intrauterine growth
retardation (41%) in primigravida
women.
28.4.2018. Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental
Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier
Inc. 2008.
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10. Lutein and zeaxanthin
• The human retina contains 25-200 ng
of these pigments: zeaxanthin being
concentrated in the center and lutein
being distributed about the
periphery.
• The carotenoid content of the macula
is dependent on dietary intake.
28.4.2018. Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental
Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier
Inc. 2008.
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11. Lutein and zeaxanthin
• It has been suggested that
lutein and zeaxanthin may
protect against age-related
macular degeneration, a
leading cause of severe vision
loss in industrialized
countries.
28.4.2018. Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental
Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier
Inc. 2008.
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12. Literature
• Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental Aspects in
Nutrition and Health. Elsevier Inc. 2008.
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