Beta Carotene :: essays research papers

Beta CaroteneBeta-carotene is a member of the carotenoid family and has over 500 relatives.Carotenoids are yellow-to-red pigments found in all green plant tissues and insome species of algae. So far-off 21 different carotenoids have been found in humanblood. The most coarse ones are alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein,lycopene, cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin. A molecule of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, or cryptoxanthin can be split into two molecules of vitamin A in thebody hardly the conversion of beta-carotene is by far the most effective. The sixcarotenoids are all antioxidants. They are very effective in neutralizing ahighly reactive for of oxygen called singlet oxygen but also, to some extent,act to break up the chain reactions involved in lipid peroxidation. Numerousstudies have shown that deal who consume a diet cryptical in dark yellow orangevegetables (carrots) and dark green vegetables (broccoli) are much less likelyto develop cancer and heart disease. It has also be en open that peoplewith low levels of beta-carotene in their blood have a higher incidence of heartdisease and cancer, particularly lung cancer. The National Cancer Instituteendorsed a study which found that women who consume lashings of beta-carotene richfruits and vegetables have a lower chance of getting cancer, including breastcancer. The Institution says that regularly eating lots of fruits andvegetables plays a key roll in cancer prevention, but whether the preventativeaction comes from beta-carotene or other nutrients in the produce has yet to bedetermined. For people who dont like eating their fruits and vegetables, abeta-carotene accompaniment pill was introduced into the market. Millions ofvegetable hating Americans hoped that by taking a pill instead of eatingvegetables, they could get the same rewards as their counterparts who enjoy thetaste of fruits and vegetables. But officials at the National Cancer Institutereleased the results of two large studies designed to pu t the benefits of beta-carotene supplements to the test. One followed 22,071 doctors who for 12 long timesmokers had to be stopped prematurely because it seemed to me making the rate ofdeath from cancer and heart disease worse. Taking a simple chemical supplementis non the same as eating a vegetable. Scientists suspect there are othernatural ingredients that work with vitamins to promote health. It is alsopossible that a beta-carotene supplement derived from natural sources andformulated so as to preserve the normal carotene ratio in the blood may be ofbenefit for people at high risk for cancer and cardiovascular disease. This,however, needs to proven. So, until the remaining riddles in the carotene