Positive Health Online
Your Country
![[Image: http://www.abundanceandhealth.co.uk]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/2836.df7d2315253110ff5b3a566f94871f99.jpg "http://www.abundanceandhealth.co.uk")
![[Image: https://www.water-for-health.co.uk/]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/4046.12831f50177f8848ee87b8e94411d6b3.jpg "https://www.water-for-health.co.uk/")
![[Image: http://www.balens.co.uk]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/2148.50367fa908013fae0a7f1a171543ef92.jpg "http://www.balens.co.uk")
![[Image: http://www.drsgoodman.com/books-goodman/52-nutrition-and-cancer]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/1859.1296090fd8385e7ceff51c8011559097.jpg "http://www.drsgoodman.com/books-goodman/52-nutrition-and-cancer")
Research: WRIGHT and colleagues,
Listed in Issue 51
Abstract
WRIGHT and colleagues, Department of Nutrition, Diet, and Health, Institute of Food Research, Norwich UK write that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are highly susceptible to attack by free radicals . In vitro research studies of carotenoids, including beta-carotene, lycopene and lutein, have demonstrated them to be effective quenchers of singlet oxygen, to possess good radical-trapping properties, or to be effective peroxyl radical scavengers, or a combination of these properties. The authors conducted a study to answer the question "does supplementation with beta-carotene, lycopene or lutein increase fasting plasma PUFA? "
Background
Methodology
The authors conducted three independent double-blind, placebo-controlled supplementation studies. Human volunteers were divided into three groups: Group I (n = 25) were supplemented with 15 mg/day beta-carotene; Group II (n = 23) were supplemented with 15 mg/day lycopene; and Group III (n = 21) were supplemented with 15 mg/day lutein. The dietary supplementation continued for 26 days.
Results
Supplementation with beta-carotene increased plasma linoleic acid; however the polyunsaturated: saturated ((P:S) fatty acid ratio was unchanged. Supplementation with lycopene reduced linoleic acid, which resulted in a large decrease in the P: S ratio. Lutein supplementation had no effect.
Conclusion
Neither beta-carotene, lycopene nor lutein supplementation engender antioxidant effects leading to widespread general conservation of plasma PUFAs . Beta-carotene and lycopene supplementation appear to interact with the metabolism of linoleic acid, an "essential" fatty acid, resulting in either an increase (beta-carotene) or decrease (lycopene) in its plasma concentration. Changes in plasma 18:2 or P:S ratios could ultimately lead to changes in the composition of tissue cellular membrane and to alterations in membrane fluidity and cell-surface protein expression.
References
Wright AJ et al. Beta-carotene and lycopene, but not lutein, supplementation changes the plasma fatty acid profile of healthy male non-smokers. The Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine 134(6): 592-8. Dec 1999.
