Oral beta-carotene can increase the number of OKT4+ cells in human blood.
Oral doses of beta-carotene (180 mg/day) given for 2 wk to normal human volunteers significantly increased the frequency of OKT4+ (helper/inducer T cells) after 7 days and of OKT3+ (all T cells) after 14 days. The frequency of OKT8+ cells was unaffected, as compared to untreated controls. Plasma levels of beta-carotene were markedly elevated throughout the study. Plasma levels of vitamin A were slightly (but significantly) elevated on days 7 and 14. No toxicity was observed. Oral beta-carotene treatment may be a clinically effective means of enhancing T4+ lymphocytes.
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Newmark
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D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D019207:beta Carotene
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D019207:beta Carotene; D002338:Carotenoids