Beta Carotene :: essays research papers

Beta CaroteneBeta-carotene is a member of the carotenoid family and has all over 500 relatives.Carotenoids are yellow-to-red pigments found in all unripe nominate tissues and insome species of algae. So far 21 different carotenoids comport been found in humanblood. The close abundant ones are alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein,lycopene, cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin. A molecule of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, or cryptoxanthin can be split into cardinal 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 confuse shown that people who consume a victuals rich in dark yellow orangevegetables (carrots) and dark green vegetables (broccoli) are much less likelyto develop crab louse and emotional state disease. It has also been established that peoplewith low levels of beta-carotene in their blood have a higher incidence of heartdisease and cancer, particularly lung cancer. The discipline Cancer Instituteendorsed a study which found that women who consume separate of beta-carotene richfruits and vegetables have a lower chance of getting cancer, including heartcancer. The Institution says that regularly take in lots of fruits andvegetables plays a key footslog in cancer prevention, but whether the preventativeaction comes from beta-carotene or early(a) nutrients in the produce has yet to bedetermined. For people who dont like eating their fruits and vegetables, abeta-carotene hang on 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 make merry thetaste of fruits and vegetables. But officials at the National Cancer Instit utereleased the results of two large studies designed to put the benefits of beta-carotene supplements to the test. One followed 22,071 doctors who for 12 dayssmokers 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 not the same as eating a vegetable. Scientists suspect on that point are othernatural ingredients that work with vitamins to promote health. It is also contingent that a beta-carotene supplement derived from natural sources andformulated so as to conserve 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