Carotenoids capsules and health benefits, review of astaxanthin, zeaxanthin, lutein, carotene and other beneficial substances

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 lycopene, beta-carotene, 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.
   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.

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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.

 

Also consider Fucoxanthin which is a carotenoid from seaweed.

Carotenoids and cancer
Carotenoids are 40-carbon molecules with conjugated double bonds, making them particularly effective for quenching free radicals. They are believed to possess anticancer properties, which could be due to their antioxidant potential.

Carotenoids in papaya and mangos
Systemic levels of carotenoids from mangoes and papaya consumed in three forms (juice, fresh and dry slice).
Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007 Oct;61(10):1180-8. Gouado I, Schweigert FJ, Ejoh RA, Tchouanguep MF, Camp JV. Faculty of Science, Department of Biochemistry, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
To assess the systemic levels of carotenoids from mangoes and papaya consumed as juice, fresh or dried slices. Two groups of seven healthy volunteers (24 and 25 years of age; body mass index: 21 and 22 kg/m(2) respectively for subjects fed mango and papaya), were submitted to three types of meal treatments (juice, fresh and dried fruit). All the treatments lasted only one day during which blood samples were collected. From the major carotenoids present in papaya and mangoes, lutein, alpha-carotene and beta-carotene were found in considerable amounts. Lycopene and cryptoxanthin that were the major carotenoids in papaya samples appeared in low amounts in the chylomicrons. The three forms of consumption contributed to the rise of serum retinol levels. A comparison between the three forms revealed that papaya and mangoes consumed in form of juice or fresh fruit are the best forms because they had higher bioavailability values.

Carotenoid studies
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.

Questions from readers
I have read that taking beta-carotene is not good for lungs, is this true?
   High doses of beta carotene supplements used by cigarette smokers for many years increased the risk for lung cancer. We suggest using a carotenoid supplement that has a number of these nutrients rather than a high dose of just one carotenoid. One capsule two or three times a week is sufficient.