Robyn Landis
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Preventing Prostate Cancer
For prevention of prostate cancer, the bulk of data seems to indicate that men should:
• Avoid red meat
• Eat a low-fat diet (20 percent of calories from fat)
• Eat more soy foods
• Supplement with zinc
• Avoid alcohol
• Eat plenty of tomatoes (these are rich in the antioxidant carotenoid lycopene, which has been linked to lower rates of prostate as well as colon and pancreatic cancers)
• Take a mixed-carotenoid supplement
• Avoid environmental pollutants
• Get small amounts of sunlight regularly, preferably in the morning hours to avoid burning. |
| Beta-carotene, which is probably the most commonly talked-about carotenoid, is just one kind. There are many kinds of carotenoids, such as lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which are also considered to be antioxidants. A high food intake of beta-carotene appears to stimulate T-helper-cell activity to arrest cancer-cell development, especially in lung and colon cancer, and people with a high intake of food sources of beta-carotene have lower cancer rates, although research on synthetic beta-carotene supplements for cancer prevention has produced mixed results. |
Josef A. Brinckmann and Michael P. Lindenmaier
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 A TLC distinction of the drug from different official Rosa species is not possible based on the carotenoid profile. Only the hips from Rosa pimpinellifolia L. (= R. spinosissima L. p.p., burnet rose) and the garden variety R. foetida J. HERRM. (= R. lutea Mill., Austrian briar rose) have traces of y8-carotene, and no rubixanthin or lycopene; their black-violet coloration is due to antho-cyanins, including cyanin [4].
Note: A short reference to the cultural and art history of the rose plant can be found in [7].
Literature
[1] W. Mitzka and L.E. Schmidt (ed. |
| This microassay (according to PPRC and JP) detects carotenoid pigments in saffron but also in parts from other flowers.
Fig. 5: Stigmas of Crocus sativus (left) and tubular floret of Carthamus tinctorius (right).
The Ph. Helv. VI (but not the Ph. Helv. VII and VIII) analyzes crocetin and corresponding precursors as follows: Add one drop of phosphomolybdic/ sulfuric acid reagent to a few milligrams of saffron powder on a glass slide. Mix the drug powder and the reagent carefully and place the cover glass immediately on top. |
Gary Null, Ph.D.
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 Beta-carotene-treated patients had a 50-fold increase in their plaque beta-carotene level and the plaque from beta-carotene-treated patients had higher carotenoid levels and higher absorption compared with controls. Such findings of increased preferential absorption by plaque, the authors argue, suggest that selective ablation of atherosclerotic plaque may be enhanced by pretreating patients with oral beta-carotene.
—M.R. Prince, et al. |
| Danilenko, et al, "Tomato carotenoid Lycopene Inhibits Cell Growth and Alters Neuropeptide Signaling in Small Cell Lung Carcinoma Cells," Proc Annu Meet Am Assoc Cancer Research, 37, 1996, p. A1800.
Results of this study showed that lycopene had radioprotective effects in mice exposed to a lethal dose of 6.5 Gy and which were stronger than such effects exhibited by beta-carotene.
—A.B. Kapitanov, et al., "Radiation-protective Effectiveness of Lycopene," Radiats Biol
Radioecol, 34(3), May-June 1994, p. 439-445. |
| Effects of Lycopene, a carotenoid, on Intrathymic T Cell Differentiation and Peripheral CD4/CD8 Ratio in a High Mammary Tumor Strain of SHN Retired Mice," Anticancer Drugs, 7(2), February 1996, p. 195-198.
Results of this study showed that the administration of lycopene exhibited chemopreventive effects in a high mammary tumor strain of mice.
—H. Nagasawa, et al., "Effects of Lycopene on Spontaneous Mammary Tumour Development in SHN Virgin Mice," Anticancer Research, 15(4), July-August 1995, p. 1173-1178. |
| Effects of carotenoid Administration on Bladder Cancer Prevention," Oncology, 48(3), 1991, p. 177-179.
Results of this study showed that the administration of vitamin A caused a reduction of transplacentally-induced leukemias. It was also observed that subsequent to a transplacental application of ENU, addition of vitamin A as a suspension to drinking water lead to a reduction of leukemia incidence to 50% as well as to a corresponding decrease of this disease as a cause of death.
—H. Wrba, et al., "Prevention of Transplacental^ Induced Malignant Diseases," Oncology,
41(1), 1984, p. 33-35. |
The Complete Book of Alternative NutritionSelene Y. Craig, Jennifer Haigh, Sari Harrar and the Editors of PREVENTION Magazine Health Books
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| You can find this powerful carotenoid in supplements labeled "tomato extract with lycopene." Dr. Haas notes that taking these supplements may be just as effective as eating tomatoes as long as lycopene is the main active ingredient. Check the label to be sure. If other active ingredients are listed, you may lose the protective effect.
Queen Stays Royal Jelly wrinklp fw»*» ^y°u were to ^sten to tne advertising, you'd bellHKIf . |
Gary Null, Ph.D.
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| Results showed that beta-carotene stimulated the secretion of a novel cytotoxic cytokine when peripheral blood cells were exposed to carotenoid concentrations between 10(-6) and 10(-10) M. Such findings indicate beta-carotene can prompt human leukocytes to secrete one or more cytokines which can manifest cytotoxic activity against human tumor cells in vitro.
—E.R. Abril, et al., "Beta-carotene Stimulates Human Leukocytes to Secrete a Novel Cytokine," Journal of Leukoc Biol, 45(3), March 1989, p. 255-261. |
| This article reports on three cases of carotenoid dependence with symptoms including irritability and nervousness associated with abstinence. Each of the three patients were smokers and described their dependence as being similar to their addiction to tobacco.
—L. Cerny & K. Cerny, "Can Carrots be Addictive? An Extraordinary Form of Drug Dependence," British Journal of Addiction, 87(8), August 1992, p. 1195-1197.
¦ DANDELION
This article reports on 7 cases of dandelion dermatitis all of which measured positive to patch testing of dandelion extracts.
—C.R. Lovell & M. |
Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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 I personally recommend taking a mixed carotenoid supplement to make sure that you are getting enough of these important compounds. Yet, these potentially life-saving compounds are not even mentioned in the RDAs.
The trace mineral chromium picolinate is another example of an important disease-fighting supplement that is excluded from the RDAs. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture have shown that chromium is an effective treatment for Type II adult-onset diabetes, quite common in the United States, which increases the risk of heart disease. |
the Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing
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 Apricots are also a good source of the most famous carotenoid of them all — beta carotene. This powerful antioxidant reduces
Benefits
Combats cancer
Controls blood pressure
Saves your eyesight
Slows aging process
Shields against Alzheimer's your risk of some types of stomach and intestinal cancers. To get these benefits, experts suggest getting at least 5 milligrams of beta carotene each day. That's equal to about six fresh apricots.
Halts heart disease. Eating dried apricots as a snack can punch up your levels of iron, potassium, beta carotene, magnesium, and copper. |
| The red carrots, on the other hand, contain the carotenoid lycopene, famous for preventing prostate and other cancers.
So keep your eyes peeled. One day soon, these colorful carrots may be in a supermarket near you.
Pantry pointers
When shopping for carrots, look for the ones that have a regular shape and the deepest orange color. Avoid carrots with black or dark-colored tops, cracks, mushiness, or root-like hairs growing out of their bodies. You can buy whole carrots or "baby" carrots already wrapped in bags. |
| Lycopene, the carotenoid that gives foods their pink or red coloring, may protect against asthma, according to a recent small study. Researchers gave people with exercise-induced asthma 30 milligrams of lycopene each day for one week. At the end of the week, more than half the people showed significant protection against asthma symptoms.
It's always best to get your nutrients from foods, and in this case, it could earn you double protection. Many foods that contain lycopene, such as tomatoes, pink grapefruit, and watermelon, are also high in vitamin C.
Magnesium and selenium. |
| Lycopene is an antioxidant that sets tomatoes and other red fruits apart. This carotenoid appears to protect against cancers of the colon, stomach, lung, esophagus, prostate, and throat. Get as much lycopene as possible by sauteing tomatoes in olive oil, or by eating red pasta sauces and pizza. Snacking on red grapefruits, guavas, and watermelon will also lift your lycopene levels.
ž Herbs and spices. Use these cancer-fighters instead of salt to zest up your meals. |
| Cantaloupes are full of beta carotene, a carotenoid your body converts into vitamin A. This natural chemical not only gives the melon its brilliant orange color but also acts as an antioxidant in your body, protecting your eyes from cataracts and macular degeneration. These two serious eye problems most often strike seniors. Cataracts blind over 1 million people worldwide every year and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in people over 65. But you can guard against both by eating the right foods. Check out the evidence. |
Prevention Magazine
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 The chlorophyll they contain masks the lighter carotenoid hues.)
How can a simple food coloring be so good for you? The reason, as is often true with nutrition, comes down to chemistry. Our bodies are constantly under attack by free radicals—oxygen molecules that have lost an electron and zip through the body trying to steal replacement electrons from healthy cells. In time, this process causes internal damage to tissues throughout the body, possibly causing heart disease, cancer, and many other serious conditions. |
Neal Barnard, M.D.
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 But beta-carotene and its more than six hundred naturally occurring carotenoid relatives have eclipsed vitamin A in importance, because they have antioxidant and immune-boosting properties that vitamin A lacks.9
This yellow-orange hue appears in Michelangelo's famous fresco. Aptly enough, it is a huge protective cloak wrapped around a man lost in thought, leaning his head against his hand and furrowing his brow. The figure is Michelangelo himself. |
Laurie Deutsch Mozian, M.S., R.D.
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 Tomatoes
Tomatoes are abundant sources of the powerful antioxidant carotenoid ly-copene and excellent sources of beta-carotene; in fact, they are second only to carrots as sources of beta-carotene. Tomatoes are also sources of the flavonoids quercetin and kaempferol. They are available fresh, dried, canned, and packed in pasteurized boxes. The more concentrated the source of tomato is, the more lycopene is detected. For example, sun-dried tomatoes and tomato paste, from which the water has been removed, have more lycopene than fresh tomatoes and tomato sauce. |
Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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| Most of these combination products include zinc, a mineral that is also involved in the maintenance of the macula, and zeaxanthin (see page 162), another carotenoid found in the macula.
Possible Benefits
Prevents macular degeneration; preserves vision.
The Right Amount
Lutein is available in tablets and combination products. Take one 6- to 20-mg. tablet daily. (If you buy a combination that includes other supplements, be sure that it contains at least 6 mg. of lutein. |
| You can also purchase each carotenoid separately, but obviously it is more convenient to take just one pill. Many different combination formulas are available for specific purposes. For example, there are formulas designed for sleep, weight loss, or better immune function, each of which would include a combination of different herbs, vitamins, and other supplements that should work well together. In some cases, these combination formulas can be a real bargain when compared to the cost of buying each supplement separately. |
| I end with zeaxanthin, another antioxidant carotenoid that is making headlines because it may help prevent a leading cause of blindness among older people: macular degeneration.
The macula is a tiny dimple on the retina that is responsible for fine vision. Damage to the macula can cause blurry vision, or a dark spot in the field of vision. It can eventually lead to a loss of central vision, which can make it impossible to read, drive, or operate a computer. There is no cure for macular degeneration, but in some cases surgery may help to slow its progress. |
| If you don't regularly eat these foods, you should consider taking a carotenoid supplement with zeaxanthin, or one of the new combination formulas designed to enhance vision that includes zeaxanthin.
Because of its antioxidant properties, zeaxanthin may also protect against various forms of cancer that can be initiated by free radical activity. In fact, preliminary studies show that zeaxanthin can decrease the rate of growth of tumor cells.
Possible Benefits
Helps protects against macular degeneration. May help prevent cancer.
The Right Amount
Take 30 to 130 mg. |
Isadore Rosenfeld, M.D.
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 That's easily done by eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day to include two servings of sweet potatoes, winter squash, or spinach, which are rich in vitamin A and its many carotenoid constituents. I also recommend 25,000 IU of beta-carotene daily, preferably from food. And finally, stop smoking.
CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME
IT'S NOT ALL IN YOUR HEAD!
Is there really such an entity as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)? If so, what causes it? Is there any treatment? |
Grace Ross Lewis
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 It is a carotenoid. Research indicates it is a possible cancer pre-ventitive.
Precautions: Harmless when used for intended purposes. Synonyms: CAS: 502-65-8 ? CAROTENE
M /
MACASSER OIL____
Products and Uses: In hair tonic, oils, and conditioning treatments.
Precautions: Derived from Indian nut kernels. Harmless when used for intended purposes. Could cause allergic reaction in susceptible individuals.
Synonyms: KUSUM OIL ? KON OIL ? PAKA OIL ? CEYLON OAK OIL
MACE___
Products and Uses: A spray and aerosol tear gas used as a riot control agent and in self-defense products. |
the Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing
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| Lycopene — Red and pink grapefruit contain lycopene, a carotenoid that gives the fruit its color. One study found that the risk of heart attack was 60 percent lower in people with the highest concentration of lycopene in their bodies compared to people with the least amount of lycopene.
Helps take the weight off. Some form of the "grapefruit diet" has been around since the 1930s when the Hollywood Diet, which consisted of a few select foods, became popular. Grapefruit was included several times a day because it supposedly contained a fat-burning enzyme. |
Prevention Magazine
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| Another carotenoid that seems to be a crusader against cancer is lycopene—the pigment that gives tomatoes their rosy glow and that is also found in watermelons, guavas, and pink grapefruit. Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health found that people who ate 10 or more servings per week of tomato-based foods had a 45 percent decrease in their risk for prostate cancer. Those who only ate four to seven servings a week—less than one a day—still came out ahead, with a 20 percent reduction in risk. It wasn't only whole tomatoes that provided the benefits either. |
Janet Zand, LAc, OMD, Allan N. Spreed, MD, CNC, James B. LaValle, RPh, ND
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 Take 5,000 international units of vitamin A twice a day; 15,000 international units of a carotenoid complex three times a day; 400 international units of vitamin E once or twice a day; and 200 micrograms of selenium daily. All of these nutrients support the immune system and can help to ease the debilitating side effects of radiation and chemotherapy.
Note: If you are pregnant or have liver disease, consult your doctor before taking supplemental vitamin A. If you have high blood pressure, limit your intake of supplemental vitamin E to a total of 400 international units daily. |
| Take 5,000 international units of vitamin A and 25,000 international units of a carotenoid complex twice a day for one week.
Note: If you are pregnant, or intend to get pregnant, or if you have liver disease, consult your doctor before taking supplemental vitamin A. Pregnant women should not ingest a total of more than 25,000 international units of supplemental vitamin A per week from all sources.
¦ Take a B-complex supplement supplying 25 milligrams of each of the major B vitamins, plus an additional 100 micrograms of vitamin B12, twice a day for three weeks. |
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