1. Quasi vitamins: non-provitamin A carotenoids
Domina Petric, MD

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.
Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier Inc

3. Food
Most non-provitamin A carotenoids are pigments occurring in red, yellow and orange-colored plant tissues.
Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier Inc

4. Major non-provitamin A carotenoids
Lycopene
Lutein
Zeaxanthin
Canthaxanthin
Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier Inc

5. Utilization
Enteric absorption is effected by micelle-dependent diffusion and are subject to the antagonistic effects of binding to heat-labile food proteins.
Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier Inc

6. Health effects
Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier Inc

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.
Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier Inc

8. Lycopene
Studies with prostate cancer cells in culture have shown to be sensitive to lycopene: cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.
Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier Inc

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.
Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier Inc

10. Lutein and zeaxanthin
The human retina contains 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.
Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier Inc

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.
Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier Inc

12. Literature
Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier Inc