| Lutein is a carotenoid that is concentrated in the pupil. Take 500 to 1,000 micrograms of lutein twice a day.
¦ Many people, especially older people, do not eat as many servings of vegetables as they should, resulting in deficiencies of important minerals. Take a good multimin-eral formula that supplies a total of 500 milligrams of magnesium, 99 milligrams of potassium, and 200 micrograms of selenium daily. Take these minerals with food.
¦ Take 5,000 international units of vitamin A three times daily, plus 25,000 international units of beta-carotene twice daily, for one month. |
| Take 25,000 international units of a carotenoid complex twice daily for two weeks.
¦ Pine-bark and grape-seed extracts are excellent natural anti-inflammatories. Take 50 milligrams of either three times a day for ten days.
¦ Vitamin C and the bioflavonoids boost the immune system and have anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamin C is also important for the production of collagen, a major skin protein. Take 500 milligrams of vitamin C and an equal amount of mixed bioflavonoids four times daily for two weeks.
¦ Zinc also boosts the immune system and helps the body fight infection. |
| Lycopene is a carotenoid, a type of phytochemical, that protects and nourishes prostate tissue. Take 3 milligrams twice a day.
¦ Magnesium promotes a healthy prostate and aids the urinary tract. Take 200 to 600 milligrams of magnesium oxide, aspartate, or citrate daily.
¦ Selenium is an important antioxidant nutrient that works with vitamin E. Take 200 micrograms of natural selenium daily.
¦ Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals and supports the immune system. Choose a product containing mixed tocopherols and start by taking 200 international units daily. |
Robert Hass, M.S.
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 That's why I tecommend that if you take dietary supplements, they contain what I call a carotenoid complex, including alpha- and beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, zeaxanthin, and preformed vitamin A. More research in this area is needed before we can draw any definitive conclusions about the effectiveness of carotene supplements, but one thing remains clear: dietary supplements can be used to augment a phytonutrient-rich diet but never to supplant it. |
Laurie Deutsch Mozian, M.S., R.D.
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 It is a member of the carotenoid family of phytochemicals. Beta-carotene is converted into vitamin A by the liver and fulfills all of the biological tasks of vitamin A. In its role as an antioxidant, beta-carotene helps to stabilize unstable free-radical molecules. By offering itself as a sacrifice, it prevents free radicals from damaging cells. To some extent, beta-carotene is found in all green vegetables, but its yellow-orange pigment is masked by chlorophyll. It is found abundantly in sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, and butternut and acorn squash. |
Prevention Magazine
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 What makes guavas so special is a carotenoid called lycopene. For a long time, lycopene took a backseat to a related compound called beta-carotene. But studies now suggest that lycopene may be even more powerful than its more-famous kin. In fact, lycopene is one of the strongest antioxidants, says Paul Lachance, Ph.D., professor of nutrition and chairman of the department of food science at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
In laboratory studies, Israeli scientists found that lycopene was able to quickly block the growth of lung and breast cancer cells. |
Laurie Deutsch Mozian, M.S., R.D.
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| In a study done to evaluate the relationship between dietary intakes of carotenoid phytochemicals and the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, a higher frequency of intake of spinach and collard greens was associated with a substantially lower risk for age-related macular degeneration. The study showed that a daily intake of 6 milligrams of lutein was associated with a 43-percent lower incidence of age-related macular degeneration.
Benign Hyperplasia of the Prostate
The prostate is a small male organ about the size of a walnut. |
The Editors of Prevention Magazine Health Books
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 People with high cholesterol levels may also find that beta-carotene and its carotenoid cousins protect their hearts. In a 13-year study at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Tennessee in Memphis, researchers monitored more than 1,800 men between the ages of 40 and 59 who had high cholesterol levels. |
| Ftesh papaya, tangerines and dried peaches are good sources of the carotenoid beta-cryptoxanthin.
Eat deep orange vegetables. Carrots and pumpkin are good sources of alpha-carotene.
Nutrient
Daily Amount
Beta-carotene
50,000 international units
Folic acid
400 micrograms
Up to 800 micrograms for pregnant women
Vitamin C
500 milligrams
Vitamin E
100 international units
MEDICAL ALERT: If you have been diagnosed with cervical dysplasia, you should be under a doctor's care.
If you are taking anticoagulant drugs, you should not take vitamin E supplements . |
Henry Pasternak, D.V.M., C.V.A.
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 In other studies, dietary beta carotene consumption was associated with reduced lung cancer risk and serum total carotenoid and beta carotene concentrations were lower in lung cancer patients.47,48
British researchers may have discovered a possible mechanism by which the immune system fights cancer and infections. To identify and destroy cancer cells, white blood cells called monocytes have to first distinguish the cancer cells from normal cells. A protein called MHC II, which sits on the surface of monocytes, in a sense, searches for cancer cells. |
Laurie Deutsch Mozian, M.S., R.D.
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| Lycopene is a carotenoid that displays powerful antioxidant activity. Lycopene exhibits twice the free-radical quenching ability of beta-carotene. It may exert its anticancer abilities by lending molecules to hungry free radicals that are created in the body in the course of normal metabolism. These free radicals will steal the molecule they need from the cell membrane if it is not in ready supply in the bloodstream. This loss from the cell membrane is thought to be the initial step in the development of heart disease or cancer. Lycopene is abundant in red and pink fruits and vegetables. |
| Peppers, Red
Red peppers contain the carotenoid lutein, which is a yellow pigment associated with a lower rate of age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in the United States after age sixty-five. Peppers also have demonstrated antioxidant activity in studies. Fresh red peppers are also good sources of ascorbic acid and beta-carotene. Hot red peppers contain the phytochemical capsaicin, which suppresses cholesterol formation in the liver and is used topically to treat inflammation. |
Janet Zand, LAc, OMD, Allan N. Spreed, MD, CNC, James B. LaValle, RPh, ND
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 Lutein, a carotenoid usually extracted from the marigold plant, is very useful in maintaining and restoring ocular health. Take 5 milligrams two or three times daily.
¦ Selenium is an excellent antioxidant that helps prevent free-radical damage throughout the body, including the eyes. Take 100 micrograms daily.
¦ Vitamin A protects against free-radical damage and is especially important to the eyes. Even a slight deficiency can contribute to eye problems. Take 5,000 international units of vitamin A twice daily. |
Robert Hass, M.S.
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| Researchers concluded that lycopene, the carotenoid that gives tomatoes their red color, was solely responsible for the protective effect against prostate cancer. Of 46 foods studied, three of four tomato-based foods—tomato sauce, tomatoes, and pizza (but not tomato juice)—significantly lowered the risk of prostate cancer. Of the 42 remaining fruits and vegetables examined, only strawberries were significantly associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer.
CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES
Brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, rutabagas and turnips. Yummy. |
Textbook of Natural Medicine 2nd Edition Volume 1Michael T. Murray, ND
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| Wennersten G. carotenoid treatment for light sensitivity. A reappraisal and six years experience. Acta Dermatovener 1980; 60: 251-255
50. Swanback G, Wennersten G. Treatment of polymorphous light eruptions with beta-carotene. Acta Dermatovener 1972; 52: 462-466
51. Newbold PC. Beta-carotene in the treatment of discoid lupus erythematosus. Br J Dermatol 1976; 100: 187-188
52. Fusaro RM, Johnson JA. Hereditary polymorphic light eruption in American Indians - photoprotection and prevention of streptococcal pyoderma and glomerulonephritis. JAMA 1980; 244: 156-159
53. |
Judith Wills
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 In fact, the carotenoid group of compounds in foods numbers about 600, many of which are also potent antioxidants. Here are just some of them.
Lycopene is the red pigment found mainly in tomatoes, red grapefruit, and watermelon. Cooked tomatoes, including those in ketchup and bottled pasta sauces, are a particularly active source. It has been found that adequate intake of lycopene can reduce incidence of heart attacks by 50%, by antioxidant activity and possibly by lowering LDL blood cholesterol levels. It may also help prevent cervical, prostate, and several other types of cancers. |
Robyn Landis
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 For example, a tall glass of carrot juice every day, if you can get your child to drink it, will provide your child with extraordinary amounts of carotenoid compounds. (It's also a good source of calcium.)
If you yourself are eating these foods, and the meals you prepare are filled with them, your child will naturally be eating more of these foods.
Essential fatty acids: EFAs are important for the synthesis of "good" prostaglandins as well as healthy, normal cell membranes. The dosage for children is half the recommended adult dose. |
Ruth Winter
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 Beta-carotene has been permanently listed as a coloring since 1964. carotenoid • Any of several pigments that give fruits and vegetables yellow, orange, or red coloring.
CARRAGEENAN • Chondrus Extract. Irish Moss. A stabilizer and emulsifier, seaweedlike in odor, derived from Irish moss, used in oils in cosmetics and foods. |
| A yellow carotenoid (see) solution or powder, it is a color additive in ink used for marking foods, and is used in oleomargarine, poultry, sausage casings, and shortening. May cause contact dermatitis.
BLACK COHOSH • Cimicifuga racemosa. Cimicifuga. Snakeroot. Bugbane. Black Snakeroot. Rattleroot. Used in astringents, perennial herb with a flower that is supposedly distasteful to insects. Grown from Canada to North Carolina and Kansas. Has a reputation for curing snakebites. It is used in ginger ale flavoring. A tonic and antispasmodic. No known toxicity. |
Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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 Betacarotene—Betacarotene is a member of the carotenoid family, a group of more than 600 compounds found in fruits and vegetables. In a study that followed more than 50,000 nurses over a period of eight years at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, researchers found that women whose diets were rich in betacarotene were 40 percent less likely to develop cataracts than those whose diets were low in this important vitamin. |
| The best known carotenoid is betacarotene, but there are others of equal importance including alphacarotene and lycopene (found in tomatoes).
• Bioflavonoids. More than five hundred compounds that give fruits and vegetables their color. At one time, bioflavonoids were considered to be little more than food dye, but today many of these compounds are being investigated for their anticancer and disease-fighting properties. Bioflavonoids have been used by natural healers for years to treat asthma and allergy; some asthma medications are based on synthetic versions of these compounds. |
| The army of antioxidants include familiar names such as vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, and copper, and some exotic sounding compounds such as lycoperie and lutein, both members of the carotenoid family, a group of more than 600 compounds naturally occurring in fruits and vegetables. (I will discuss antioxidants as they pertain to particular cancers later.) In order to get enough natural antioxidants, you must eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables throughout the day. (For fruits, one serving is defined as one medium fruit or 6 ounces of fresh fruit juice. |
| For example, one member of the carotenoid family, lycopene, may help prevent prostate cancer. Lycopene is found in many fruits and vegetables, with tomatoes, watermelon, and palm oil being particularly rich sources. It is now available as a supplement. Recently, Harvard Uni-versit researchers reported that men who eat at least ten servings a week of tomato-based foods sharply reduce their risk of developing prostate cancer, and they speculated that lycopene could be the protective factor. |
| Lutein—Lutein is another member of the carotenoid family with potent antioxidant properties. Lutein is abundant in green vegetables such as kale, spinach, and broccoli. Since most men do not eat these foods routinely, I recommend taking a lutein supplement.
Earl's Rx
Soy: Take one scoop of soy powdered beverage (be sure it contains isoflavones, genistein, and daidzen) and blend into 8 ounces of low-fat or no-fat soy milk. (Vanilla flavored is my favorite!) Add a few ice cubes and mix in blender. Drink daily as a meal or between-meals snack. |
| Lutein—Lutein is also a member of the carotenoid family and is found in great concentration in the macula of the eye, the back part of the retina where entering light hits and send signals to the brain. Lutein is also a potent antioxidant, which leads some researchers to hypothesize that it is concentrated in the eye for a reason, that is, to protect it from oxidative damage.
Vitamin E—According to a Finnish study published in the British Medical Journal, people with low blood levels of vitamin E are nearly twice as likely to develop cataracts as people with normal levels. |
Ralph W. Moss, Ph.D.
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 In Louisiana, a study of lung cancer showed fruit intake to be protective, while a small study of mesothelioma suggested that vegetable and carotenoid intake lowers the risk (NCI, 1988).
The National Cancer Institute also announced that it had awarded over half a million dollars to the New York Botanical Garden to undertake a worldwide search for natural plant substances that might fight cancer. At the same time, NCI has established a Cancer Nutrition Laboratory and worked out elaborate plans to study "dietary factors associated with cancer risk" (ibid.). |
Robyn Landis
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| Leafy Greens—Lutein in spinach, mustard, turnip, and collard greens, as well as yellow squash, are carotenoid antioxidants that appear to protect against some cancers, slow degenerative eye disease, and increase immunity. Dark, leafy greens also contain indoles (see crucifers).
The above fruits and vegetables are probably best eaten fresh and raw (except for beans, obviously) but are also probably just as effective lightly cooked (steamed is best) as well. A few, such as the sulforaphanes in crucifers, are reported to be enhanced by light steaming or microwaving. |
Textbook of Natural Medicine 2nd Edition Volume 1Michael T. Murray, ND
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| Other constituents of dandelion which may contribute to its pharmacology include resins, pectin, taraxanthin (a carotenoid pigment in the flowers), fatty acids, and flavonoids.
Many studies show that dandelion is a rich source of vitamins and minerals.1 The leaves have the highest vitamin A content (14,000 IU/100 g raw) of all greens, as well as ample amounts of vitamins D, B complex, C and minerals such as iron silicon, magnesium, sodium, potassium, zinc, manganese, copper and phosphorus.1,2 Dandelion also contains relatively high amounts of choline, an important nutrient for the liver. |
Robyn Landis
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| Tomatoes—Lycopene (a carotenoid, in the same family as beta-carotene, among others) is an antioxidant, so it protects against cell damage. It is linked to reduced growth of colon and bladder cancer cells in mice, may reduce risk of prostate cancer and prostate disease, and may also lower risk of cardiovascular disease. P-coumaric acid stops the production of cancer-causing nitrosamines. Coumarins are also antiinflammatory. |
Textbook of Natural Medicine 2nd Edition Volume 1Michael T. Murray, ND
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| It appears that tissue carotenoid content is the most significant factor in determining maximal life span potential (MLSP) of mammalian species (r = 0.835 for 12 mammalian species, and for primates alone, r = 0.939! ).16 For example, human MLSP of approximately 90 years correlates with a serum carotene level of 50-300 meg/dl, while other primates, such as the rhesus monkey, have a MLSP of approximately 34 years, correlating with a serum carotene level of 6-12 meg/dl. |
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