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LUTEIN AND
LYCOPENE
Both Lutein and
Lycopene are carotenoids, a family of natural yellow to deep-red
pigments found in many plants and some animals – the orange in oranges,
the red in tomatoes and the pink in flamingos. The name comes from the
most common carotenoid found in nature: the yellow-orange beta carotene
found in carrots.
Most of us were
introduced to the carotenoids’ vision benefits via “Bugs Bunny:”
beta-carotene is converted to Vitamin A and then to a pigment
responsible for night vision and its antioxidant value also offers
protection against waning vision and cataracts. However, in general,
carotenoids are associated with a reduced risk of heart disease1-2,
regulation of blood sugar and diabetes3-4 as well as a
reduction in several forms of cancer5-7.
Lutein is the
yellow pigment found in marigolds (and in egg yolks). A small daily dose
of as little as 10-20 milligrams per day has been shown in clinical
studies to improve vision in patients with retinal damage, cataracts and
macular degeneration.
Lycopene is the
red pigment found in red peppers and tomatoes. It has been shown to be
beneficial in the treatment and prevention of several different forms of
cancer12-19, important in fat breakdown, reducing arterial
plaques and coronary (heart) health20-24 and may play a role
in fetal growth and development as well as asthma25-26.
Work Cited:
Carotenoids: Lutein and Lycopene
1. Ann. Epidemiol, 5:255-260, 1995: A prospective study of consumption
of carotenoids in fruits and vegetables and decreased cardiovascular
mortality in the elderly.
2. J Nutr, 129:5-8, 1999. Beta-Carotene, carotenoids and the prevention
of coronary heart disease
3. J Epidemiol, 12:357-66, 2002. Relationship between serum carotenoids
and hyperglycemia: a population- based cross-sectional study
4. Am J Clin Nutr, 77:1434-41, 2003. Dietary intakes and plasma
concentrations of carotenoids and tocopherols in relation to glucose
metabolism in subjects at high risk of type 2 diabetes: the Botnia
Dietary Study.
5. Harris RA, Key TJ, Silcocks PB, et al. A case-controlled study of
dietary carotene in men with lung cancer and in men with other
epithelial cancers. Nutrition and Cancer(1991)15:63-68.
6. Michaud DS, Feskanich D, Rimm EB, et al. Intake of specific
carotenoids and risk of lung cancer in 2 prospective US cohorts. Am J
Clin Nutr(2000)Oct;72(4):990-7.
7. Wald NJ, Thompson SG, Densem JW, et al. Serum beta-carotene and
subsequent risk of cancer: results from the BUPA study. British Journal
of Cancer(1988)57:428-33.
8. Optometry, 71:147-64, 2000. Lutein improves visual function in some
patients with retinal degeneration: a pilot study via the Internet.
9. Exp Eye Res, 74:371-81, 2002. Macular pigment and lutein
supplementation in choroideremia.
10. Nutrition, 19:21-4, 2003. Lutein, but not alpha-tocopherol,
supplementation improves visual function in patients with age-related
cataracts: a 2-y double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study.
11. Optometry, 75:216-30, 2004. Double-masked, placebo-controlled,
randomized trial of lutein and antioxidant supplementation in the
intervention of atrophic age-related macular degeneration: the Veterans
LAST study (Lutein Antioxidant Supplementation Trial).
12. BJU Int. 92:375-8, 2003 .A comparison of lycopene and orchidectomy
vs orchidectomy alone in the management of advanced prostate cancer.
13. Exp Biol Med (Maywood), 227:881-5. 2002. Effects of lycopene
supplementation in patients with localized prostate cancer.
14. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 10:861-8, 2001.Phase II randomized
clinical trial of lycopene supplementation before radical prostatectomy.
15. Exp Biol Med (Maywood), 227:894-9, 2002. Lycopene and the lung.
16. Nutr Cancer, 31:199-203, 1998.Bioavailability and in vivo
antioxidant properties of lycopene from tomato products and their
possible role in the prevention of cancer.
17. J Nutr, 125:1854-9, 1995.Skin lycopene is destroyed preferentially
over beta-carotene during ultraviolet irradiation in humans.
18. J Nutr, 131:1449-51, 2001.Dietary tomato paste protects against
ultraviolet light-induced erythema in humans.
19. Nutr Cancer, 36:163-9, 2000. Correlates of serum lycopene in older
women.
20. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo), 47:213-21, 2001.Effects of tomato
juice consumption on plasma and lipoprotein carotenoid concentrations
and the susceptibility of low density lipoprotein to oxidative
modification.
21. Eur J Nut, 42:201-6, 2003. Protective activity of tomato products on
in vivo markers of lipid oxidation.
22. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, 20:2677-81, 2000.Low plasma lycopene
concentration is associated with increased intima-media thickness of the
carotid artery wall.
23. J Lab Clin Med, 134:592-8, 1999. Beta-carotene and lycopene, but not
lutein, supplementation changes the plasma fatty acid profile of healthy
male non-smokers.Allergy, 55:1184-9, 2000. Reduction of exercise-induced
asthma oxidative stress by lycopene, a natural antioxidant.
24. Lipids, 33:981-4, 1998. Tomato lycopene and low density lipoprotein
oxidation: a human dietary intervention study.
25. Int Urol Nephrol, 34:369-72, 2002.Lycopene therapy in idiopathic
male infertility--a preliminary report.
26. Int J Gynaecol Obstet, 81:257-62. 2003. Effect of lycopene on pre-eclampsia
and intra-uterine growth retardation in primigravidas.
As required by the Food and Drug
Administration:
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This
product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent
any disease. |