Topic of the Month
The role of carotenoids in disease prevention
1 April 2014
Many studies have linked the regular consumption of carotenoid-rich foodstuffs to a reduced risk for the incidence of a number of diseases. Under discussion as basic mechanisms for this protective effect are the antioxidant activity of carotenoids and their biochemical ability to influence signal transmission in cells. A sufficient intake of carotenoids to support the body’s own antioxidative network could therefore combat the development of diseases that are stimulated by oxidative damage to cell constituents. Since these micronutrients are fat-soluble they act mainly in cell membranes and lipoproteins to protect against excessive oxidation. There they can help prevent cell mutation – and therefore the development of cancer – and the formation of atherosclerosis, which is a cause of cardiovascular disease.