Dietary intake of carotenoids and their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in cardiovascular care.
Cardiovascular disease related to atherosclerosis represents nowadays the largest cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries. Due to inflammatory nature of atherosclerosis, several studies had been conducted in order to search for substances with anti-inflammatory activity on arterial walls, able to exert beneficial roles on health. Researches investigated the role of dietary carotenoids supplementation on cardiovascular disease, due to their free radicals scavenger properties and their skills in improving low-density lipoprotein cholesterol resistance to oxidation. Nevertheless, literature data are conflicting: although some studies found a positive relationship between carotenoids supplementation and cardiovascular risk reduction, others did not find any positive effects or even prooxidant actions. This paper aimed at defining the role of carotenoids supplementation on cardiovascular risk profile by reviewing literature data, paying attention to those carotenoids more present in our diet (β-carotene, α-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin).
Cardiovascular Diseases Section, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (DETO), University of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
Marco Matteo
MM
Ciccone
Cardiovascular Diseases Section, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (DETO), University of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
Francesca
F
Cortese
Cardiovascular Diseases Section, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (DETO), University of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
Michele
M
Gesualdo
Cardiovascular Diseases Section, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (DETO), University of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
Santa
S
Carbonara
Cardiovascular Diseases Section, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (DETO), University of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
Annapaola
A
Zito
Cardiovascular Diseases Section, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (DETO), University of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
Gabriella
G
Ricci
Cardiovascular Diseases Section, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (DETO), University of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
Francesca
F
De Pascalis
Cardiovascular Diseases Section, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (DETO), University of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
Pietro
P
Scicchitano
Intensive Cardiology Care Unit, San Camillo de Lellis Hospital, Via Isonzo 1, 71043 Manfredonia, Italy.
Graziano
G
Riccioni
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D065366:Cryptoxanthins; D004032:Diet; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D014975:Lutein / Q000378:metabolism; D000077276:Lycopene; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D012306:Risk; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000378:metabolism; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000378:metabolism
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D065366:Cryptoxanthins; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene; D002338:Carotenoids; C041635:alpha-carotene; C005948:astaxanthine; D010100:Oxygen; D000077276:Lycopene; D014975:Lutein