β-Carotene is a phytochemincal
in the class of Carotenes, belonging to the group of Carotenoids
(tetraterpenoids), found abundantly in in dark, leafy greens and red, orange and yellow fruits and vegetable.
Health Benefits
1. Lung cancer in smokers
In
the review of ATBC study, the CARET study, the Antioxidant Polyp
Prevention trial, and the E3N study evidences which provide the adverse
effects of beta-carotene
supplementation with the smoking status of the study participants,
concluded that human and animal studies have shown that specific
circumstances, among them heavy smoking, seem to influence the effect of
high beta-carotene intakes. In normal, healthy, nonsmoking populations, there is evidence of beneficial effects, according to "Beta-carotene and lung cancer in smokers: review of hypotheses and status of research" by Goralczyk R.(1)
2. Macular degeneration and vision loss
In
the investigation of the effect of daily oral tablets containing: (1)
antioxidants (vitamin C, 500 mg; vitamin E, 400 IU; and beta carotene,
15 mg); (2) zinc, 80 mg, as zinc oxide and copper, 2 mg, as cupric
oxide; (3) antioxidants plus zinc; or (4) placebo for their effects on
macular degeneration and vision loss, found that persons older than 55
years should have dilated eye examinations to determine their risk of
developing advanced AMD. Those with extensive intermediate size drusen,
at least 1 large druse, noncentral geographic atrophy in 1 or both
eyes, or advanced AMD or vision loss due to AMD in 1 eye, and without
contraindications such as smoking, should consider taking a supplement
of antioxidants plus zinc such as that used in this study, according to
"A randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of high-dose supplementation with vitamins C and E, beta carotene, and zinc for age-related macular degeneration and vision loss: AREDS report no. 8" by Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group.(2)
3. Alzheimer's disease
In
the determination of an association between vascular
comorbidities/vascular risk factors and plasma levels of antioxidant
micronutrients in patients with AD.Patients. A neuropsychological
assessment (Mini-Mental State Examination, MMSE;
Clock drawing test; DemTect) and the measurement of plasma levels of
lipophilic micronutrients including retinol
(vitamin A), α-tocopherol (vitamin E), lutein,
zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, α-carotene and β-carotene by
HPLC found that the depletion of circulating
antioxidant micronutrients observed in AD patients is associated with
vascular comorbidities and risk factors. The vascular comorbidities
of patients with AD should also be identified in light of the presence
and degree of depletion of the antioxidant defense system of the
organism. This might lead to a better lifestyle-related counselling of
patients with AD and their caregivers, with possible positive
preventive effects on worsening in the long run, according to "[Influence
of vascular comorbidities on the antioxidant
defense system in Alzheimer's disease].[Article in German]" by Polidori MC, Stahl W, De Spirt S, Pientka L.(3)
4. Breast cancer
In
the assessment of Carotenoids antioxidant and antiproliferative
properties in reducing the risk of breast cancer, found that dietary alpha-carotene
and beta-carotene were inversely associated with the risk of
ER-PR-breast cancer among ever smokers. Among ever smokers, the
multivariable relative risks of ER-PR-breast cancer comparing the
highest with the lowest quintile of intake were 0.32 (95% confidence
interval (CI): 0.11-0.94; P(trend)=0.01) for alpha-carotene
and 0.35 (95% CI: 0.12-0.99; P(trend)=0.03) for beta-carotene. The
risk of breast cancer also decreased with increasing intakes of alpha-carotene (P(trend) = 0.02) and beta-carotene (P(trend)=0.01) among women who did not use dietary supplements, according to "Dietary carotenoids and risk of hormone receptor-defined breast cancer in a prospective cohort of Swedish women" by Larsson SC, Bergkvist L, Wolk A.(4)
5. Prostate cancer
In
the consideration of the association between retinol and various
carotenoids using data from a multicentric case-control study
conducted in Italy between 1991 and 2002, found that the risk of
prostate cancer tended to decrease with increasing intake of retinol
(OR=0.79 for the highest versus the lowest quintile of intake),
carotene (OR=0.70), alpha-carotene
(OR=0.85) and beta-carotene (OR=0.72), although the estimates were
significant for carotene and beta-carotene only. No meaningful
associations emerged for nonprovitamin A carotenoids, such as lycopene
(OR=0.94) and lutein/zeaxanthin (OR=0.91), according to "Retinol, carotenoids and the risk of prostate cancer: a case-control study from Italy" by Bosetti C, Talamini R, Montella M, Negri E, Conti E, Franceschi S, La Vecchia C.(5)
6. Pancreatic carcinogenesis
In
the consideration of the role of 15 selected vitamins and carotenoids
and 6 minerals on pancreatic cancer risk in an Italian case-control
study, found that comparing the highest to the lowest quintile of
intake, the OR were 0.60 (95% CI 0.36-0.98) for vitamin E, 0.44 (95% CI
0.27-0.73) for vitamin C, 0.56 (95% CI 0.34-0.93) for folate, and
0.57 (95% CI 0.35-0.92) for potassium. No significant inverse
associations were observed for α-carotene (OR = 0.69, 95% CI
0.43-1.12), β-carotene (OR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.39-1.06), and
β-cryptoxanthin (OR = 0.66, 95% CI 0.39-1.09). No relation was found
for other micronutrients considered. Our findings support a favorable
role of vitamins E and C, selected carotenoids, and folate on
pancreatic carcinogenesis, according to "Dietary intake of selected micronutrients and the risk of pancreatic cancer: an Italian case-control study" by Bravi F, Polesel J, Bosetti C, Talamini R, Negri E, Dal Maso L, Serraino D, La Vecchia C.(6)
7. Benign prostatic hyperplasia
In
the analyzing the relationship between surgically treated benign
prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and intake of selected micronutrients, found
that the risk of BPH significantly decreased with increasing intake of
carotene (OR=0.80 for an increment equal to the difference between
the 80th and 20th percentile of intake), alpha-carotene
(OR=0.83), beta-carotene (OR=0.82), and cis beta-carotene (OR=0.82)
and tended to decrease with the intake of vitamin C (OR=0.89) and iron
(OR=0.79), according to "Intake of
selected micronutrients and the risk of surgically treated benign
prostatic hyperplasia: a case-control study from Italy" by Tavani A, Longoni E, Bosetti C, Maso LD, Polesel J, Montella M, Ramazzotti V, Negri E, Franceschi S, La Vecchia C.(7)
8. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
In
the assessment of the role of vitamins, as assessed either by food
frequency questionnaires or measured in serum levels, have been
reported to improve pulmonary function, reduce exacerbations and
improve symptoms, found that various vitamins (vitamin C, D, E, A, beta
and alpha carotene)
are associated with improvement in features of COPD such as symptoms,
exacerbations and pulmonary function. High vitamin intake would
probably reduce the annual decline of FEV1, according to "A systematic review of the role of vitamin insufficiencies and supplementation in COPD" by Tsiligianni IG, van der Molen T.(8)
9. Antibacterial and Antioxidant Properties
In
the evaluation fo Pteleopsis hylodendron (Combretaceae) is used in
Cameroon and West Africa folk medicine for antibacterial and antioxidant
Properties, found that the methanolic extract and some fractions
exhibited antibacterial activities that varied between the bacterial
species (ID = 0.00-25.00 mm; MIC = 781-12500 μg/mL and
0.24-1000 μg/mL). The activity of the crude extract is, however, very
weak compared to the reference antibiotics (MIC = 0.125-128 μg/mL). Two
fractions (F(E) and F(F)) showed significant activity (MIC =
0.97 μg/mL) while S. aureus ATCC 25922 was almost resistant to all the
tested fractions, according to "Antibacterial and Antioxidant Properties of the Methanolic Extract of the Stem Bark of Pteleopsis hylodendron (Combretaceae)" by Mokale Kognou AL, Ngono Ngane RA, Kuiate JR, Koanga Mogtomo ML, Tchinda Tiabou A, Mouokeu RS, Biyiti L, Amvam Zollo PH(9)
10. Colorectal cancer (CRC)
In
the evaluation of the dietary pattern and lifestyle characteristics of
patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) in Jordan of the case-control
study included 220 recently diagnosed CRC cases and 220 age and gender
matched healthy subjects as a control group, found that A sedentary
lifestyle and a diet low in fruits and vegetables, and high in animal
red meat and saturated fat, appeared associated with CRC among the
studied Jordanian subjects. This is consistent with the reported CRC
studies in developed nations indicating global causal effects for this
tumour type, according to "Dietary and Lifestyle Characteristics of Colorectal Cancer in Jordan: a Case-control Study" by Arafa MA, Waly MI, Jriesat S, Alkhafajei A, Sallam S.(10)
11. Metabolic syndrome
In
the investigation of the effectiveness of a 10-week lifestyle
intervention focusing on physical activity and high fiber intake for
reducing indicators for metabolic syndrome in overweight-obese
individuals, found that both groups improved their dietary quality, but
only G2 presented higher intake of fruit and vegetables (servings/day),
higher plasma beta-carotene
levels and a 24% reduction of MetS incidence. Additionally G2 showed
greater reductions in body fat (4%), and waist circumference (7%),
obesity class III (2%) and obesity class II (14%) rate. Lifestyle
intervention, including a high dietary fiber intake, improved healthy
eating index and decreased body fat composition and plasma lipid
concentrations leading to MetS incidence reduction, according to "Ten-week lifestyle changing program reduces several indicators for metabolic syndrome in overweight adults" by Mecca MS, Moreto F, Burini FH, Dalanesi RC, McLellan KC, Burini RC.(11)
12. Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Disease
In the investigation of the associations of hypothesized prooxidative (Fe) and antioxidative (Zn, Mg, β-carotene,
vitamin C, vitamin E) micronutrients with incident MetS, T2D, and CVD
in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, found that Dietary intakes
of nonheme iron, Mg, vitamin C, and β-carotene
were not associated with risk of MetS, T2D, or CVD. Data provided
little support for the associations between specific micronutrients and
MetS, T2D, or CVD. However, nutrients consumed in red meat, or red meat
as a whole, may increase risk of MetS and CVD, according to "Dietary
Intakes of Zinc and Heme Iron from Red Meat, but Not from Other
Sources, Are Associated with Greater Risk of Metabolic Syndrome and
Cardiovascular Disease" by de Oliveiraotto MC, Alonso A, Lee DH, Delclos GL, Bertoni AG, Jiang R, Lima JA, Symanski E, Jacobs DR Jr, Nettleton JA.(12)
13. Gastric cancer
In
the consideration of several micronutrients and minerals in an Italian
case-control study conducted between 1997 and 2007, including 230
patients with incident, histologically confirmed gastric cancer and 547
matched controls, admitted with acute conditions,
found that decreased ORs for the highest versus lowest quartile of vitamin E (OR=0.50), alpha-carotene
(OR=0.52) and beta-carotene (OR=0.42) intake. Gastric cancer was
directly associated with sodium, with ORs of 2.22 for the second, 2.56
for the third and 2.46 for the fourth quartile of intake. No
significant relation emerged with iron, calcium, potassium, zinc,
vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin D,
retinol, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene and lutein plus zeaxanthin,
according to "Dietary intake of selected micronutrients and gastric cancer risk: an Italian case-control study" by Pelucchi C, Tramacere I, Bertuccio P, Tavani A, Negri E, La Vecchia C.(13)
14. Etc.
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Sources
(1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20155614
(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11594942
(3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22318842
(4) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20116235
(5) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15382052
(6) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20530201
(7) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16442205
(8) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21134250
(9) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22312549
(10) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22292627
(11) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22260334
(12) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22259193
(13) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18669867
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