title: Carotenoids and DNA damage.
abstract: Carotenoids are among the best known antioxidant phytochemicals, and are widely believed to contribute to the health-promoting properties of fruits and vegetables. Investigations of the effects of carotenoids have been carried out at different levels: in cultured cells, in experimental animals, and in humans. Studying reports from the last 5 years, we find a clear distinction between effects of vitamin A and pro-vitamin A carotenoids (the carotenes and β-cryptoxanthin), and effects of non-vitamin A carotenoids (lycopene, lutein, astaxanthin and zeaxanthin). Whereas the latter group are almost invariably reported to protect against DNA damage, whether endogenous or induced by exogenous agents, the provitamin A carotenoids show a more varied spectrum of effects, sometimes protecting and sometimes enhancing DNA damage. The tendency to exacerbate damage is seen mainly at high concentrations, and might be accounted for by pro-oxidant actions of these carotenoids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Toxicology, Schools of Pharmacy and Sciences, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Amaya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azqueta
authors.forename: Andrew R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D000077276:Lycopene; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids; D000077276:Lycopene