Phytochemicals: 12 Health Benefits of Carotenoids

Carotenoids are fat soluble organic pigments of plants such as algae, some bacteria, and fungus. It generally cannot be manufactured by animals but have to acquired plants. It is said that consuming caretrnoids can optimize your health against many types of chronic illness as it acts as antioxidant fighting against foreigner invasion such as bacteria and virus and promotes the immune system guarding our body from oxidation causes of irregular cells growth, such as tumors. In a study of "Functional food science and defence against reactive oxidative species." by
Diplock AT, Charleux JL, Crozier-Willi G, Kok FJ, Rice-Evans C, Roberfroid M, Stahl W, Viña-Ribes J.(Source from International Antioxidant Research Centre, UMDS, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.") posted in US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, as the paper assesses critically the science base that underpins the argument that oxidative damage is a significant causative factor in the development of human diseases and that antioxidants are capable of preventing or ameliorating these disease processes. You can find the result at this link

2. Enhances ovaries function and progesterone synthesis
In a study of "Short-term intake of β-carotene-supplemented diets enhances ovarian function and progesterone synthesis in goats" by G. Arellano-Rodriguez, C. A. Meza-Herrera, R. Rodriguez-Martinez, R. Dionisio-Tapia, D. M. Hallford, M. Mellado, A. Gonzalez-Bulnes posted in Wiley Online Library, reseachers found that the results suggest a higher efficiency within the cellular-enzymatic groups defining the steroidogenic pathways in the β-carotene-supplemented goats, generating a larger P4 synthesis. The last is essential for ovulation of healthy oocytes, maintenance of uterine quiescence, nourishment and survival of the embryo around implantation; all of them of paramount significance during the maternal recognition of pregnancy process.
 

5. 6. Breast cancer
In a study of `Intake of specific carotenoids and essential fatty acids and breast cancer risk in Montreal, Canada`by André Nkondjock and Parviz Ghadirian, posted idocosahexaenoic acid may reduce the risk of breast cancer.
7. Lung cancer
In a study of `Role of Various Carotenoids in Lung Cancer Prevention` Paul Knekt, Ritva Järvinen, Lyly Teppo, Arpo Aromaa, Ritva Seppänen (Affiliations of authors: P. Knekt, A. Aromaa, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland; R. Järvinen, University of Kuopio, Finland; L. Teppo, Finnish Cancer Registry, Helsinki; R. Seppänen, Social Insurance Institution, Turku, Finland.), posted in Biology Online, researchers concluded that n summary, this study suggests that8. Cervical cancer
In a study of `Dietary intakes of selected nutrients and food groups and risk of cervical cancer.` by Ghosh C, Baker JA, Moysich KB, Rivera R, Brasure JR, McCann SE.9. Carotenoids and DNA
In a study of `Evidence that dietary supplementation with carotenoids and carotenoid-rich foods modulates the DNA damage : repair balance in human lymphocytes` by Siaˆn B. Astley, Ruan M. Elliott, David B. Archer and Susan Southon posted in British Journal of Nutrition (2004), researchers concluded that in summary, dietary supplementation with mixed carotene capsules, at a level achievable by dietary manipulation alone without the use of isolates, led to an enhancement of cellular recovery from oxidative challenge, measured as the disappearance rate of H2O2-induced DNA SSB, in PBL. This effect was most consistent for the mixed carotenoid
intervention promoting cellular SSB repair processes. Carotenoid-rich whole foods did not elicit the same effect, possibly due to the fact that they produced a less marked rise in plasma carotenoids. On the other hand, one of the whole foods, cooked carrots, did lead to a moderate but significant increase in DNA repair patch synthesis activity in PBL. Indeed, the observed wide
inter-individual variation in PBL DNA repair patch synthesis activity, which could not be linked to any of the volunteers’ variables measured, suggests that either genetic or environmental factors, or both, are important for the regulation of DNA repair processes. The results presented here suggest that diet may be one such factor.Such modulation of DNA repair activity potentially hasgreat significance in relation to degenerative processes and human health.

11. cognitive function
(Source of Channing Laboratory, School of Public Health, Harvard Medical School, 181 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. phfrg@channing.harvard.edu) posted in US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, researchers found that12. Pancreatic Cancer
In a study of `Low concentrations of beta-carotene stimulate the proliferation of human pancreatic duct epithelial cells in a PKA-dependent manner.` by Al-Wadei HA, Majidi M, Tsao MS, Schuller HM. (Source Experimental Oncology Laboratory, Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.) posted in National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, researchers found that our data show significant concentration-dependent and PKA-dependent stimulation of all measured endpoints. Similar responses were achieved with forskolin. Our data indicate that low concentrations of beta-carotene stimulate the proliferation of the putative origin of PDAC, pancreatic duct epithelial cells via cAMP and PKA-dependent transactivation of the EGFR pathway. This could potentially have promoting effects on the development of PDAC.

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