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Carotenoids Lutein (carotenoid + lutein)
Selected AbstractsCarotenoid lutein protects rats from paracetamol-, carbon tetrachloride- and ethanol-induced hepatic damageJOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 8 2010Edakkadath R. Sindhu Abstract Objectives, Carotenoids are a class of natural fat-soluble pigments that are found in many fruits and vegetables. Consumption of a diet rich in carotenoids has been epidemiologically correlated with a lower risk for several diseases. In the present study the carotenoid lutein (3,3,-dihydroxy- ,,, -carotene) was evaluated for its hepatoprotective activity in rats. Methods, Paracetamol, 20% ethanol and carbon tetrachloride were used to induce liver toxicity. Key findings, Levels of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase and alkaline phosphatases, which were increased in the serum, were found to be significantly reduced by the treatment of lutein in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that lutein may reduce the hepatotoxicity induced by these agents. Serum bilirubin was also significantly lower in lutein-treated groups compared with control. Increased lipid peroxidation, conjugated diene and hydroperoxides in the liver tissue produced by the administration of paracetamol were found to be reduced in the lutein-treated groups. Levels of antioxidant enzymes, like superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione, were found to be increased in lutein-treated groups compared with control group during alcohol- and CCl4 -induced liver toxicity. Hydroxyproline, which is an indicator of fibrosis in liver tissue, was high in the ethanol-treated control group. Hydroxyproline levels were decreased by simultaneous lutein administration. Conclusions, Histopathological evidence confirmed the protection offered by lutein from the tissue damage caused by hepatotoxins. The hepatoprotective action may be due to lutein's ability to scavenge reactive oxygen radicals. [source] Effects of LDL-immunoapheresis on plasma concentrations of vitamin E and carotenoids in patients with familial hypercholesterolemiaJOURNAL OF CLINICAL APHERESIS, Issue 4 2004Edmund Cauza Abstract Recently very potent extracorporeal cholesterol-lowering treatment options have become available for patients with hypercholesterolemia. LDL immunoapheresis treatment selectively removes LDL and lipoprotein(a) from the circulation. Since LDL is the major carrier of lipophilic antioxidants in plasma, the purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of a single LDL apheresis treatment on plasma concentrations of tocopherols (,- and ,-tocopherol) and carotenoids (,- and ,-carotene, zeaxanthin, cryptoxanthin, canthaxanthin, lycopene, and retinol). Plasma antioxidant concentrations were determined by HPLC in 7 patients with familial hypercholesterolemia before and after LDL immunoapheresis treatment. Plasma concentrations of both ,- and ,-tocopherol and the different carotenoids were significantly reduced by LDL apheresis. However, when standardized for cholesterol to adjust for cholesterol removal, ,- and ,-tocopherol, retinol, and the more polar carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin increased in response to apheresis treatment, while the more unpolar carotenoids such as ,-carotene and lycopene did not change. These data demonstrate that a single LDL immunoapheresis treatment affects tocopherols and individual carotenoids differently. This may be explained by differences in chemical structure and preferential association with different lipoproteins. These results further imply that tocopherols, lutein, zeaxanthin, and retinol, are associated in part with lipoproteins and other carriers such as retinol-binding protein that are not removed during apheresis treatment. J. Clin. Apheresis 19:174,179, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Supplementation with the carotenoids lutein or zeaxanthin improves human visual performanceOPHTHALMIC AND PHYSIOLOGICAL OPTICS, Issue 4 2006Jessica Kvansakul Abstract Background:, Macular pigment (MP) is found in diurnal primate species when vision spans a range of ambient illumination and is mediated by cone and rod photoreceptors. The exact role of MP remains to be determined. In this study we investigate two new hypotheses for possible MP functions. Objective:, As MP absorption coincides partly with that of rhodopsin, MP may reduce rod signal effectiveness in the mesopic range, thus extend the usefulness of cone-mediated vision into the mesopic range. Forward light scatter in the eye can reduce retinal image contrast. If blue light contributes significantly to intraocular scatter, selective blue light absorption by MP could reduce the effects of scatter. Design:, We investigated 34 subjects from a carotenoid supplementation trial. The measurements included high mesopic contrast acuity thresholds (CATs), macular pigment optical density (MPOD), wavefront aberrations, and scattered light. The measurements were made after 6 months of daily supplementation with zeaxanthin (Z, OPTISHARPÔ), lutein (L), a combination of the two (C), or placebo (P), and again after a further 6 months of doubled supplementation. Results:, The data reveal a trend toward lower CATs in all groups supplemented, with a statistically significant improvement in the lutein group (p = 0.001), although there was no correlation with MPOD. Light scattering in the eye and the root-mean-square wavefront aberrations show decreasing trends as a result of supplementation, but no correlation with MPOD. Conclusions:, The results suggest that supplementation with L or Z increases MPOD at the fovea and at 2.5°, and that supplementation can improve CATs at high mesopic levels and hence visual performance at low illumination. [source] | ||||||||||