What is lycopene and beta-carotene?
Lycopene is a type of organic pigment called a carotenoid. It is related to beta-carotene and gives some vegetables and fruits (e.g., tomatoes) a red color. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that might help protect cells from damage.
What is lutein and lycopene good for?
Lutein and lycopene, two prevalent carotenoids in the human diet have become increasingly popular ingredients in dietary supplements. A large body of human and animal research suggests that oral forms of these carotenoids may provide benefits in the areas of eye, prostate, skin and cardiovascular health.
Is lycopene and beta-carotene the same?
The chief difference between beta-carotene and lycopene is that beta-carotene is the main precursor for vitamin A in the diet, whereas lycopene has no pro-vitamin A activity. In many world populations, beta-carotene consumption is crit- ical to preventing vitamin A deficiency.
Which is better lutein or beta-carotene?
Lutein from vegetables was 5 times as bioavailable as β-carotene (16) in a study that compared human subjects fed lutein (10.7 ± 9.4 mg) and β-carotene (5.1 ± 3.2 mg) from a high-vegetable diet with those fed a low-vegetable, supplemented diet providing 12.0 ± 3.1 mg lutein and 7.2 ± 1.5 mg β-carotene.
What is lutein for?
Lutein is a carotenoid with reported anti-inflammatory properties. A large body of evidence shows that lutein has several beneficial effects, especially on eye health. In particular, lutein is known to improve or even prevent age-related macular disease which is the leading cause of blindness and vision impairment.
Is lycopene good for eyes?
May help your eyesight: Lycopene may prevent or delay the formation of cataracts and reduce your risk of macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in older adults ( 25 , 26 ).
What is beta-carotene good for?
In the body, beta-carotene converts into vitamin A (retinol). We need vitamin A for good vision and eye health, for a strong immune system, and for healthy skin and mucous membranes. Taking big doses of vitamin A can be toxic, but your body only converts as much vitamin A from beta-carotene as it needs.
What are the benefits of beta carotene?
Antioxidants like beta carotene might be very helpful in reducing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive decline. Research has shown that antioxidants, including beta carotene, can help maintain skin health and appearance, and may protect the skin against UV radiation from the sun.
