Carotenoids health benefits as antioxidants and disease preventionf or health improvement, risks
Carotenoids complex includes alpha carotene lutein zeaxanthin cryptoxanthin and beta-carotene which have health benefits and risks. We recommend not using a single carotenoid by itself in high dosages.

Carotenoids are a group of fat soluble pigments widely distributed in plants and animals. Dietary carotenoids are thought to provide health benefits in decreasing the risk of disease, particularly certain cancers and eye disease. The carotenoids that have been most studied in this regard are beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin and astaxanthin. In part, the beneficial effects of carotenoids are thought to be due to their role as antioxidants. Beta-Carotene may have added benefits due its ability to be converted to vitamin A. Carotenoids are found in a product that helps with eyesight called Eyesight Rx.
   Food sources of these compounds include a variety of fruits and vegetables, although the primary sources of lycopene are tomato and tomato products, along with watermelon. Lycopene has been found to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Egg yolk is a highly bioavailable source of lutein and zeaxanthin. Lutein and zeaxanthin may be protective in eye disease because they absorb damaging blue light that enters the eye. Cayenne pepper has carotenoids.
   Carotenoids are available in supplement form. However, intervention trials with large doses of beta-carotene found an adverse effect on the incidence of lung cancer in smokers and workers exposed to asbestos. Until the efficacy and safety of taking supplements containing these nutrients can be determined, current dietary recommendations of diets high in fruits and vegetables are advised. However, it is possible that a combination pill containing several carotenoids may be preferable to taking a high dose of one carotenoid.
   Carotenoids from vegetable juices are able to enhance the immune system in those who normally have a low intake of carotenoids.
   Carotenoids ingested as supplements act as antioxidants.

Carotenoid complex 120 capsules - Now Foods

Many diverse carotenoids besides beta-carotene play vital roles in maintaining good health, especially in protecting against free radical damage. Yet, most Americans don't eat enough vegetables.

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Immune system
Supplementation of a low-carotenoid diet with tomato or carrot juice modulates immune functions in healthy men.
Watzl B. Haid-und-Neu-Strasse 9, DE-76131 Karlsruhe, Germany.
Ann Nutr Metab. 2003;47(6):255-61.
Beta-carotene has been shown to enhance immune functions in humans. Whether vegetables rich in carotenoids, such as beta-carotene or lycopene, modulate immune functions in healthy humans is presently not known. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a low-carotenoid diet supplemented with either tomato (providing high amounts of lycopene) or carrot juice (providing high amounts of alpha- and beta-carotene) on immune functions in healthy men. In a blinded, randomized, cross-over study, male subjects on a low-carotenoid diet consumed 330 ml/day of either tomato juice (37.0 mg/day lycopene) or carrot juice (27.1 mg/day beta-carotene and 13.1 mg/day alpha-carotene) for 2 weeks with a 2-week depletion period after juice intervention. Immune status was assessed by measuring lytic activity of natural killer (NK) cells, secretion of cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, TNFalpha), and proliferation by activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Juice consumption resulted in relatively fast responses in plasma carotenoid concentrations which were not accompanied by concomitant changes in immune functions. For IL-2, NK cell cytotoxicity, and lymphocyte proliferation, maximum responses were observed during depletion periods. The highest production rate was measured only for TNFalpha at the end of the first intervention period. Juice intervention did not modulate the secretion of IL-4. Increased plasma carotenoid concentrations after vegetable juice consumption are accompanied by a time-delayed modulation of immune functions in healthy men consuming a low-carotenoid diet.

Risk of beta carotene in high doses
The Vitamins and Lifestyle (VITAL) study, led by Dr. Jessie A. Satia, found the long-term use of beta-carotene, retinol, and lutein supplements at doses higher than in multivitamins, increases lung cancer risk, especially in smokers and former smokers. Dr. Jessie Satia analyzed data from 77,000 individuals ages 50 to 76 who filled out questionnaires in 2000-2002 regarding supplement use over the previous decade. Each supplement raised the risk of non-small-cell lung cancer, the most common type of lung cancer, with retinol and lutein also having a modest association with lung cancer overall. When beta-carotene was used for at least 4 years, the overall risk of lung cancer was not significantly increased, but the risk of small-cell lung cancer rose by more than 3-fold. For retinol, the overall risk of lung cancer increased by more that 50 percent and for non-small-cell lung cancer, it increased by 80 percent. For lutein, the overall risk increased by 2-fold, while the corresponding risk for non-small-cell lung cancer increased by 2.5-fold. The researchers guess that "these nutrients from supplements may be more bioavailable than those from dietary sources" and large amounts of these supplements might interfere with the absorption, transport and or metabolism of micronutrients or other carotenoids that may be protective against lung cancer. American Journal of Epidemiology, April 1, 2009.

Inquiries
Q. Would taking a carotenoid supplement interfere with the use of ashwagandha plant supplement?
   A. Carotenoids are safe supplements and can be taken will just about all other herbs and vitamins. However, we suggest not taking them along with individual carotenoid supplements such as alpha carotene lycopene lutein zeaxanthin cryptoxanthin and beta-carotene.

Q. I am taking a carotenoid supplement since I have cancer and searching for natural and herbal therapy options. Have there been studies with natural carotenoid complex supplements as a way to reduce tumor growth?
   A. We are not aware of cancer studies using a carotenoid complex in humans for any length of over 2 or 3 years which is the least required in order to determine how a supplement is influencing cancer growth.