title: Carotenoids: actual knowledge on food sources, intakes, stability and bioavailability and their protective role in humans.
abstract: Carotenoids are one of the major food micronutrients in human diets and the overall objective of this review is to re-examine the role of carotenoids in human nutrition. We have emphasized the attention on the following carotenoids present in food and human tissues: beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, alpha-carotene, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin; we have reported the major food sources and dietary intake of these compounds. We have tried to summarize positive and negative effects of food processing, storage, cooking on carotenoid content and carotenoid bioavailability. In particular, we have evidenced the possibility to improve carotenoids bioavailability in accordance with changes and variations of technology procedures.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Human Nutrition, National Institute for Food and Nutrition Research, Rome, Italy. maiani@inran.it
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maiani
authors.forename: María Jesús Periago
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Castón
authors.forename: Giovina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Catasta
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Toti
authors.forename: Isabel Goñi
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Cambrodón
authors.forename: Anette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bysted
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Granado-Lorencio
authors.forename: Begoña
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Olmedilla-Alonso
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Knuthsen
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valoti
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Böhm
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mayer-Miebach
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Behsnilian
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schlemmer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004032:Diet; D005504:Food Analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D002338:Carotenoids