Inverse Association between Dietary Intake of Selected Carotenoids and Vitamin C and Risk of Lung Cancer

Dietary and supplementary vitamin C intake and the risk of lung cancer: A meta‑analysis of cohort studies

Previous cohort studies reported inconsistent findings regarding the association between dietary or supplementary vitamin C intake and lung cancer risk. These associations were investigated by conducting a meta-analysis of cohort studies. The PubMed and EMBASE databases were utilized, using keywords related to the topic from inception to April 15, 2022. Pooled effect sizes, such as relative risk (RR) or hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), were calculated using a random-effects model. A total of 20 cohort studies from 13 articles were included in the final analysis. In a meta-analysis of all studies, there was no significant association between dietary or supplementary vitamin C intake and lung cancer risk (RR/HR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.80-1.01; I2=56.4%; n=20). In the subgroup meta-analysis by the source of vitamin C, dietary vitamin C intake decreased the risk of lung cancer (RR/HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.73-0.92; I2=42.5%; n=14), whereas there was no association between supplementary vitamin C intake and lung cancer risk (RR/HR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.84-1.22; n=4). The present meta-analysis of cohort studies found that dietary vitamin C intake is beneficial for preventing lung cancer, whereas its supplementary intake does not have a beneficial effect.

[Prevention and Treatment of Cancer with Vitamin A and Its Derivatives: Cell Differentiation and Proliferation]

Normal differentiation and proliferation of cells are essential for maintaining homeostasis. Following the successful completion of whole genome sequencing, protein modification has been attracted increasing attention in order to understand the roles of protein diversification in protein function and to elucidate molecular targets in mechanisms of signal transduction. Vitamin A is an essential nutrient for health maintenance. It is present as β-carotene in green and yellow vegetables and retinyl ester in animal products and absorbed into the body from the intestines. After ingestion, it is converted to retinol and oxidized in target cells to retinal, which plays critical roles in vision. It is then further oxidized to retinoic acid (RA), which exhibits a number of effects prior to being metabolized by cytochrome P450 and excreted from the body. Since RA exhibits cell differentiation-inducing actions, it is used as a therapeutic agent for patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia. The current paper describes: (1) HL60 cell differentiation and cell differentiation induction therapy by RA; (2) roles played by RA and retinal and their mechanisms of action; (3) retinoylation, post-translational protein-modified by RA, a novel non-genomic RA mechanism of action without RA receptor; (4) new actions of β-carotene and retinol in vivo and (5) potent anticancer effects of p-dodecylaminophenol (p-DDAP), a novel vitamin A derivative created from the RA derivative fenretinide. We propose that nutritional management of vitamin A can be effective at preventing and treating diseases, and that p-DDAP is a promising anticancer drug.

Role of endogenous and exogenous antioxidants in risk of six cancers: evidence from the Mendelian randomization study

Background: Although oxidative stress is known to contribute to cancer, and endogenous and exogenous antioxidants are thought to prevent tumorigenesis by suppressing oxidative stress-induced DNA damage, antioxidants have also been reported to show negative effects on tumor formation, necessitating characterization of the causal associations between antioxidants and cancer risk. Methods: In this study, Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, primarily inverse-variance weighted MR, was used to assess the causal effect of six endogenous and five exogenous diet-derived antioxidants on the risk of six cancers. MR-Egger intercept test and Cochran's Q statistic were utilized to assess pleiotropy and heterogeneity, respectively. Results: For endogenous antioxidants, a bidirectional two-sample MR analysis was conducted. Our findings suggested that serum albumin has a negative causal association with the risk of prostate cancer [odds ratio (OR) = 0.78, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.68-0.91, p = 0.001]. The risks of the six cancers showed no significant associations with endogenous antioxidants in the converse MR analysis. For exogenous antioxidants, the unidirectional two-sample MR analysis exhibited a nominal relationship between the serum retinol level and non-small-cell lung cancer risk (OR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.11-0.76, p = 0.011). Conclusions: Thus, our study revealed the protective effects of genetic susceptibility to high circulating albumin levels on prostate cancer, providing potential targeted interventions for prostate cancer prevention.

Carotenoids for lung cancer chemoprevention and chemotherapy: Promises and controversies

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of malignancy in the world. Several therapeutical and chemopreventive approaches have been practised to mitigate the disease. The use of phytopigments including carotenoids is a well-known approach. However, some of the prominent clinical trials interrogated the efficacy of carotenoids in lung cancer prevention.

METHODS

A elaborate literature survey have been performed investigating in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies reported on the administration of carotenoids for chemoprevention and chemotherapy.

RESULTS

Tobacco consumption, genetic factors, dietary patterns, occupational carcinogens, lung diseases, infection, and sex disparities are some of the prominent factors leading to lung cancer. Significant evidence has been found underlining the efficiency of carotenoids in alleviating cancer. In vitro studies have proven that carotenoids act through PI3K/ AKT/mTOR, ERK-MAPK pathways and induce apoptosis through PPAR, IFNs, RAR, which are p53 intermediators in lung cancer signaling. Animal models and cell lines studies showed promising results, while the outcomes of clinical trials are contradictory and require further verification.

CONCLUSION

The carotenoids exert chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive effects on lung tumors which has been evidenced in numerous investigations. However, further analyses are necessary to the answer the uncertainties raised by several clinical trials.

Association between Dietary and Supplemental Antioxidants Intake and Lung Cancer Risk: Evidence from a Cancer Screening Trial

Previous studies provided inconsistent results on the effects of antioxidant nutrient intake on lung cancer prevention. We aimed to evaluate the association between antioxidant consumption from food and supplemental sources and lung cancer incidence. Data were obtained from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) cancer screening trial. A total of 98,451 participants were included in the data analysis. We used a multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between antioxidant intake and lung cancer risk. Dose-response assessments for individual nutrients were conducted. We also selected the model for the best combination of antioxidants for reducing lung cancer risk using machine learning methods. After the median follow-up of 12.2 years, 1642 new cases were identified. Intake of the calculated HRs indicated a trend for a higher quartile of food-based Composite Dietary Antioxidant Index (fCDAI) associated with a lower lung cancer risk after adjusting for covariates (HR_Q4vs.Q1 = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.52, 0.79; P for trend < 0.001). Protective effects of dietary antioxidant intake were observed across all individual antioxidant micronutrients except magnesium. Random forests model suggested the dietary intake group of α-carotene, magnesium, vitamin C, vitamin E, lycopene, selenium, lutein, and zeaxanthin, and β-carotene had the most favorable effects on lung cancer prevention. Higher consumption of antioxidants from food sources has a protective effect against lung cancer, while no effects were shown in the supplemental group. It is recommended to consume a combination of various antioxidants due to the potential benefits from the interaction, while more research should be performed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of antioxidant synergic effects on lung cancer risk reduction.

A chemometric approach to evaluate the effects of probe-type ultrasonication on the enzyme inactivation and quality attributes of fresh amla juice

The enzymatic browning induced in amla juice due to the high activity of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) is one of the critical issues faced by the industry. The present study assessed the suitability of non-thermal, high-intensity ultrasound (US) on the inactivation of PPO and POD in fresh Indian Gooseberry juice. Ultrasonic waves, using a 6 mm titanium alloy probe were irradiated in the juice at a maximum power of 455 W and frequency of 20 kHz. The subsequent effects on biochemical attributes were studied using response surface methodology. Inactivation rates of 90.72 % and 73.18 %, respectively, for PPO and POD enzymes, were observed at the highest US intensity and exposure time. Numerical optimisation using the three-factor, three-level Box-Behnken design suggested that an optimum process at 70 % (energy density: 1610 Wcm^-2) pulsed at 5 s on and 5 s off for 7 min 30 s resulted in PPO and POD inactivation of the order of 76.42 % and 64.57 % respectively. At these experimental conditions, the optimized levels of biochemical attributes i.e., ascorbic acid (738.50 mg/100 mL), total phenols (17.10 mg/mL), DPPH antioxidant activity (58.47 %), tannins (7.11 µg/mL), colour change (ΔE = 9.04) and flavonoids (6.14 mg/mL) were achieved. The overall statistical models were significant for all the responses except for reducing sugars. Furthermore, the approximation equations for individual responses indicated that the goodness of fit was adequate (R² > 0.90). The results suggested that ultrasound is a suitable processing technique for amla juice stabilisation compared to thermal treatments that result in the loss of quality.

Dietary Antioxidants and Lung Cancer Risk in Smokers and Non-Smokers

Smoking is considered a major risk factor in the development of lung diseases worldwide. Active smoking and secondhand (passive) smoke (SHS) are related to lung cancer (LC) risk. Oxidative stress (OS) and/or lipid peroxidation (LP) induced by cigarette smoke (CS) are found to be involved in the pathogenesis of LC. Meta-analyses and other case-control/prospective cohort studies are inconclusive and have yielded inconsistent results concerning the protective role of dietary vitamins C and E, retinol, and iron intake against LC risk in smokers and/or non-smokers. Furthermore, the role of vitamins and minerals as antioxidants with the potential in protecting LC cells against CS-induced OS in smokers and non-smokers has not been fully elucidated. Thus, this review aims to summarize the available evidence reporting the relationships between dietary antioxidant intake and LC risk in smokers and non-smokers that may be used to provide suggestions for future research.

Associations of Dietary Intakes of Carotenoids and Vitamin A with Lung Cancer Risk in a Low-Income Population in the Southeastern United States

Observational studies found inverse associations of dietary carotenoids and vitamin A intakes with lung cancer risk. However, interventional trials among high-risk individuals showed that β-carotene supplements increased lung cancer risk. Most of the previous studies were conducted among European descendants or Asians. We prospectively examined the associations of lung cancer risk with dietary intakes of carotenoids and vitamin A in the Southern Community Cohort Study, including 65,550 participants with 1204 incident lung cancer cases. Multivariate Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Lung cancer cases had lower energy-adjusted dietary intakes of all carotenoids and vitamin A than non-cases. However, dietary intakes of carotenoids and vitamin A were not associated with overall lung cancer risk. A significant positive association of dietary vitamin A intake with lung cancer risk was observed among current smokers (HR_{Q4 vs. Q1} = 1.23; 95% CI: 1.02-1.49; P_trend = 0.01). In addition, vitamin A intake was associated with an increased risk of adenocarcinoma among African Americans (HR_{Q4 vs. Q1} = 1.55; 95%CI: 1.08-2.21; P_trend = 0.03). Dietary lycopene intake was associated with an increased risk of lung cancer among former smokers (HR_{Q4 vs. Q1} = 1.50; 95% CI: 1.04-2.17; P_trend = 0.03). There are positive associations of dietary β-cryptoxanthin intake with squamous carcinoma risk (HR_{Q4 vs. Q1} = 1.49; 95% CI: 1.03-2.15; P_trend = 0.03). Further studies are warranted to confirm our findings.

Untapping the protective role of carotenoids against respiratory diseases

BACKGROUND

Recent studies revealed a substantial role of carotenoids to treat respiratory diseases. This review aimed to give an updated overview of the investigational evidence on the preventive properties of carotenoids against respiratory diseases both in vitro and in vivo along with their pathophysiology and mechanisms of action.

HYPOTHESIS

Carotenoids as a potential therapeutic class of bioactive compounds to treat respiratory diseases.

RESULTS

Carotenoids such as β-carotene, lycopene, crocin, bixin, lutein, and astaxanthin show beneficial effects against chronic lung diseases (e.g., asthma, emphysema, fibrosis, COPD, acute lung injury, and lung cancer). Moreover, in vitro and in vivo studies also supported the preventive role of carotenoids. These carotenoids showed a beneficial role by activation of the NRF2/HO-1 pathway and inhibition of the NF-кB, MAPK, JAK/STAT-3, and PI3K/AKT pathways. Additionally, epidemiological studies also showed that dietary intake of carotenoids lowers the risk of lung diseases.

CONCLUSION

Carotenoids may be used as drugs or can be given in combination with other drugs to prevent and treat respiratory diseases. Although in vitro and in vivo results are encouraging, further well-conducted randomized clinical trials are required to approve carotenoids as drug candidates.

Therapeutic promise of carotenoids as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents in neurodegenerative disorders

Neurodegenerative disorders (NDs) including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, and multiple sclerosis have various disease-specific causal factors and pathological features. A very common characteristic of NDs is oxidative stress (OS), which takes place due to the elevated generation of reactive oxygen species during the progression of NDs. Furthermore, the pathological condition of NDs including an increased level of protein aggregates can further lead to chronic inflammation because of the microglial activation. Carotenoids (CTs) are naturally occurring pigments that play a significant role in averting brain disorders. More than 750 CTs are present in nature, and they are widely available in plants, microorganisms, and animals. CTs are accountable for the red, yellow, and orange pigments in several animals and plants, and these colors usually indicate various types of CTs. CTs exert various bioactive properties because of its characteristic structure, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Due to the protective properties of CTs, levels of CTs in the human body have been markedly linked with the prevention and treatment of multiple diseases including NDs. In this review, we have summarized the relationship between OS, neuroinflammation, and NDs. In addition, we have also particularly focused on the antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties of CTs in the management of NDs.

Fruit ripening: dynamics and integrated analysis of carotenoids and anthocyanins

BACKGROUND

Fruits are vital food resources as they are loaded with bioactive compounds varying with different stages of ripening. As the fruit ripens, a dynamic color change is observed from green to yellow to red due to the biosynthesis of pigments like chlorophyll, carotenoids, and anthocyanins. Apart from making the fruit attractive and being a visual indicator of the ripening status, pigments add value to a ripened fruit by making them a source of nutraceuticals and industrial products. As the fruit matures, it undergoes biochemical changes which alter the pigment composition of fruits.

RESULTS

The synthesis, degradation and retention pathways of fruit pigments are mediated by hormonal, genetic, and environmental factors. Manipulation of the underlying regulatory mechanisms during fruit ripening suggests ways to enhance the desired pigments in fruits by biotechnological interventions. Here we report, in-depth insight into the dynamics of a pigment change in ripening and the regulatory mechanisms in action.

CONCLUSIONS

This review emphasizes the role of pigments as an asset to a ripened fruit as they augment the nutritive value, antioxidant levels and the net carbon gain of fruits; pigments are a source for fruit biofortification have tremendous industrial value along with being a tool to predict the harvest. This report will be of great utility to the harvesters, traders, consumers, and natural product divisions to extract the leading nutraceutical and industrial potential of preferred pigments biosynthesized at different fruit ripening stages.

Causal associations between dietary antioxidant vitamin intake and lung cancer: A Mendelian randomization study

Background

Oxidative stress is currently considered to be closely related to the occurrence of respiratory tumors, especially lung cancer. Many observational studies have shown that increased antioxidant intake can reduce the risk of lung cancer, but the results are still controversial. Therefore, we performed a two-sample Mendelian randomized (MR) analysis to clarify the causal relationship between antioxidant vitamins and lung cancer.

Methods

To assess the causal effect of dietary antioxidant vitamin intake on lung cancer, we conducted a two-sample MR analysis and we extracted single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are associated with antioxidants from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of the UK biobank. We gathered summary data for lung cancer from the International Lung Cancer Consortium (ILCCO), including 11,348 cases and 15,861 controls, and applied the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method as the primary MR analysis, and performed a sensitivity analysis to verify the results.

Results

The results showed that higher dietary retinol intake was causally associated with lung cancer overall [odds ratio (OR) = 1.844, 95% CI, 1.359-2.502, p = 0.00009], squamous cell lung cancer (OR = 2.162, 95% CI, 1.117-4.183, p = 0.022), and lung adenocarcinoma (OR = 1.706, 95% CI, 1.084-2.685, p = 0.021). Additionally, carotene was positively correlated with lung adenocarcinoma (OR = 1.510, 95% CI, 1.002-2.276, p = 0.049). However, there was a non-significant relationship between the intake of other dietary antioxidants (vitamin C and vitamin E) and lung cancer.

Conclusion

Our research showed that dietary retinol intake has an adverse impact on lung cancer, and carotene might increase the risk of adenocarcinoma. This highlights the importance of revealing the underlying mechanisms of dietary antioxidant vitamins in lung cancer and delivers an important health message that dietary antioxidant vitamin intake may not be necessary for the prevention of lung cancer. It also provides a basis for future research.

Molecular research progress and improvement approach of fruit quality traits in cucumber

Recent molecular studies revealed new opportunities to improve cucumber fruit quality. However, the fruit color and spine traits molecular basis remain vague despite the vast sources of genetic diversity. Cucumber is agriculturally, economically and nutritionally important vegetable crop. China produces three-fourths of the world's total cucumber production. Cucumber fruit quality depends on a number of traits such as the fruit color (peel and flesh color), spine (density, size and color), fruit shape, fruit size, defects, texture, firmness, taste, maturity stage and nutritional composition. Fruit color and spine traits determine critical quality attributes and have been the interest of researchers at the molecular level. Evaluating the molecular mechanisms of fruit quality traits is important to improve production and quality of cucumber varieties. Genes and qualitative trait locus (QTL) that are responsible for cucumber fruit color and fruit spine have been identified. The purpose of this paper is to reveal the molecular research progress of fruit color and spines as key quality traits of cucumber. The markers and genes identified so far could help for marker-assisted selection of the fruit color and spine trait in cucumber breeding and its associated nutritional improvement. Based on the previous studies, peel color and spine density as examples, we proposed a comprehensive approach for cucumber fruit quality traits improvement. Moreover, the markers and genes can be useful to facilitate cloning-mediated genetic breeding in cucumber. However, in the era of climate change, increased human population and high-quality demand of consumers, studies on molecular mechanisms of cucumber fruit quality traits are limited.

Carotenoids and Apocarotenoids in Planta: Their Role in Plant Development, Contribution to the Flavour and Aroma of Fruits and Flowers, and Their Nutraceutical Benefits

Carotenoids and apocarotenoids are diverse classes of compounds found in nature and are important natural pigments, nutraceuticals and flavour/aroma molecules. Improving the quality of crops is important for providing micronutrients to remote communities where dietary variation is often limited. Carotenoids have also been shown to have a significant impact on a number of human diseases, improving the survival rates of some cancers and slowing the progression of neurological illnesses. Furthermore, carotenoid-derived compounds can impact the flavour and aroma of crops and vegetables and are the origin of important developmental, as well as plant resistance compounds required for defence. In this review, we discuss the current research being undertaken to increase carotenoid content in plants and research the benefits to human health and the role of carotenoid derived volatiles on flavour and aroma of fruits and vegetables.

Vitamin A in health care: Suppression of growth and induction of differentiation in cancer cells by vitamin A and its derivatives and their mechanisms of action

Vitamin A is an important micro-essential nutrient, whose primary dietary source is retinyl esters. In addition, β-carotene (pro-vitamin A) is a precursor of vitamin A contained in green and yellow vegetables that is converted to retinol in the body after ingestion. Retinol is oxidized to produce visual retinal, which is further oxidized to retinoic acid (RA), which is used as a therapeutic agent for patients with promyelocytic leukemia. Thus, the effects of retinal and RA are well known. In this paper, we will introduce (1) vitamin A circulation in the body, (2) the actions and mechanisms of retinal and RA, (3) retinoylation: another RA mechanism not depending on RA receptors, (4) the relationship between cancer and actions of retinol or β-carotene, whose roles in vivo are still unknown, and (5) anti-cancer actions of vitamin A derivatives derived from fenretinide (4-HPR). We propose that vitamin A nutritional management is effective in the prevention of cancer.

Understanding Lung Carcinogenesis from a Morphostatic Perspective: Prevention and Therapeutic Potential of Phytochemicals for Targeting Cancer Stem Cells

Lung cancer is still one of the deadliest cancers, with over two million incidences annually. Prevention is regarded as the most efficient way to reduce both the incidence and death figures. Nevertheless, treatment should still be improved, particularly in addressing therapeutic resistance due to cancer stem cells—the assumed drivers of tumor initiation and progression. Phytochemicals in plant-based diets are thought to contribute substantially to lung cancer prevention and may be efficacious for targeting lung cancer stem cells. In this review, we collect recent literature on lung homeostasis, carcinogenesis, and phytochemicals studied in lung cancers. We provide a comprehensive overview of how normal lung tissue operates and relate it with lung carcinogenesis to redefine better targets for lung cancer stem cells. Nine well-studied phytochemical compounds, namely curcumin, resveratrol, quercetin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, luteolin, sulforaphane, berberine, genistein, and capsaicin, are discussed in terms of their chemopreventive and anticancer mechanisms in lung cancer and potential use in the clinic. How the use of phytochemicals can be improved by structural manipulations, targeted delivery, concentration adjustments, and combinatorial treatments is also highlighted. We propose that lung carcinomas should be treated differently based on their respective cellular origins. Targeting quiescence-inducing, inflammation-dampening, or reactive oxygen species-balancing pathways appears particularly interesting.

Method for beta-carotene extraction from processed baby foods as a model for plant-based fatty food products

Reliable quantitative determination of carotenoids in complex food matrices such as processed baby food products is challenging because of their incorporation in rigid cellular structures, their sensitivity to oxidation and their lipophilic character. A one-pot liquid-liquid β-carotene extraction procedure is described for solid baby foods, in the presence of enzymes (Clara-Diastase and Rapidase) facilitating matrix disintegration. The combined extraction and enzymatic dissolution not only protected β-carotene from oxidation compared to the sequential approach, but also reduced the use of solvents and amount of filtrations steps, favouring a higher recovery. The addition of phenolic antioxidants (BHT, TBHQ and BHA) to calibration solutions and during the procedure at 25 mg/mL resulted in an up to 2.5-fold higher absorbance of β-carotene solutions which was not observed for trans-β-apo-8'-carotenal (used as internal standard) solutions. When applying the full procedure on β-carotene spiked sunflower oil, an apparent recovery of 80% for β-carotene was obtained. Finally, this protocol was applied to 50 vegetable-based and 22 fruit-based processed baby foods (range 0 to 1179 and 504 µg/100 g, respectively), and it was concluded that this extraction procedure may be used for similar processed foods products. The procedure proved to be sensitive (LOD = 0.12 µg/mL) and reproducible (CV for baby foods: 4-10%).

Oxidative Stress and the Intersection of Oncogenic Signaling and Metabolism in Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) arise from both stratified squamous and non-squamous epithelium of diverse anatomical sites and collectively represent one of the most frequent solid tumors, accounting for more than one million cancer deaths annually. Despite this prevalence, SCC patients have not fully benefited from recent advances in molecularly targeted therapy or immunotherapy. Rather, decades old platinum-based or radiation regimens retaining limited specificity to the unique characteristics of SCC remain first-line treatment options. Historically, a lack of a consolidated perspective on genetic aberrations driving oncogenic transformation and other such factors essential for SCC pathogenesis and intrinsic confounding cellular heterogeneity in SCC have contributed to a critical dearth in effective and specific therapies. However, emerging evidence characterizing the distinct genomic, epigenetic, and metabolic landscapes of SCC may be elucidating unifying features in a seemingly heterogeneous disease. In this review, by describing distinct metabolic alterations and genetic drivers of SCC revealed by recent studies, we aim to establish a conceptual framework for a previously unappreciated network of oncogenic signaling, redox perturbation, and metabolic reprogramming that may reveal targetable vulnerabilities at their intersection.

Effects of three cooking methods on content changes and absorption efficiencies of carotenoids in maize

Maize is a staple source of certain carotenoids for the human diet, but food processing is an important factor affecting the carotenoid content and absorption. In this study, we investigated the content changes of carotenoids in maize under three cooking methods (boiling kernels, preparing porridge and preparing tortilla). Also, using the in vitro digestion model, we assessed the effects of the cooking methods on carotenoid absorption efficiencies (digestion stability, micellization efficiency and bioaccessibility). The results indicated that the carotenoid content obviously increased in the boiled kernels, but its carotenoid bioaccessibility was the lowest compared to that of porridge and tortilla. Tortilla presented the highest digestion stability of β-carotene (309 ± 63%) and bioaccessibility of xanthophylls (22.4 ± 0.5% for lutein and 18.5 ± 1.0% for zeaxanthin) among the three cooked products during in vitro digestion. The contents of carotenoids in the porridge were all the lowest among the three cooked products; however, the low concentration level of xanthophylls reduced the competitive effect on β-carotene micellization, which increased the bioaccessibility of β-carotene to 52.1 ± 5.0%. Additionally, the content of xanthophylls (lutein + zeaxanthin) in digesta significantly and positively correlated with the β-carotene content in digesta, whereas it negatively correlated with the micellization of β-carotene. This correlation between the xanthophylls and β-carotene was not affected by the cooking methods. These results together suggest that tortilla and porridge are better dietary choices for the intake of xanthophylls and β-carotene, respectively, among maize-based foods. Furthermore, the absorption of β-carotene was influenced by the content of xanthophylls whatever the cooking method.

Consequences of Vitamin A Deficiency: Immunoglobulin Dysregulation, Squamous Cell Metaplasia, Infectious Disease, and Death

Vitamin A is an important regulator of immune protection, but it is often overlooked in studies of infectious disease. Vitamin A binds an array of nuclear receptors (e.g., retinoic acid receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, retinoid X receptor) and influences the barrier and immune cells responsible for pathogen control. Children and adults in developed and developing countries are often vitamin A-deficient or insufficient, characteristics associated with poor health outcomes. To gain a better understanding of the protective mechanisms influenced by vitamin A, we examined immune factors and epithelial barriers in vitamin A deficient (VAD) mice, vitamin D deficient (VDD) mice, double deficient (VAD+VDD) mice, and mice on a vitamin-replete diet (controls). Some mice received insults, including intraperitoneal injections with complete and incomplete Freund’s adjuvant (emulsified with PBS alone or with DNA + Fus-1 peptide) or intranasal inoculations with Sendai virus (SeV). Both before and after insults, the VAD and VAD+VDD mice exhibited abnormal serum immunoglobulin isotypes (e.g., elevated IgG2b levels, particularly in males) and cytokine/chemokine patterns (e.g., elevated eotaxin). Even without insult, when the VAD and VAD+VDD mice reached 3–6 months of age, they frequently exhibited opportunistic ascending bacterial urinary tract infections. There were high frequencies of nephropathy (squamous cell hyperplasia of the renal urothelium, renal scarring, and ascending pyelonephritis) and death in the VAD and VAD+VDD mice. When younger VAD mice were infected with SeV, the predominant lesion was squamous cell metaplasia of respiratory epithelium in lungs and bronchioles. Results highlight a critical role for vitamin A in the maintenance of healthy immune responses, epithelial cell integrity, and pathogen control.

Role of lycopene in smoke-promoted chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung carcinogenesis

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with cigarette smoking being the single most important risk factor for both. Emerging evidence indicates alterations in reverse cholesterol transport-mediated removal of excess cholesterol from lung, and intracellular cholesterol overload to be involved in smoke-promoted COPD and lung cancer development. Since there are currently few effective treatments for COPD and lung cancer, it is important to identify food-derived, biologically active compounds, which can protect against COPD and lung cancer development. High intake of the carotenoid lycopene, as one of phytochemicals, is associated with a decreased risk of chronic lung lesions. This review article summarizes and discusses epidemiologic evidence, in vitro and in vivo studies regarding the prevention of smoke-promoted COPD and lung carcinogenesis through dietary lycopene as an effective intervention strategy. We focus on the recent research implying that lycopene preventive effect is through targeting the main genes involved in reverse cholesterol transport. This review also indicates gaps in knowledge about the function of lycopene against COPD and lung cancer, offering directions for further research.

Carotenoid biofortification in crop plants: citius, altius, fortius

Carotenoids are indispensable for human health, required as precursors of vitamin A and efficient antioxidants. However, these plant pigments that play a vital role in photosynthesis are represented at insufficient levels in edible parts of several crops, which creates a need for increasing their content or optimizing their composition through biofortification. In particular, vitamin A deficiency, a severe health problem affecting the lives of millions in developing countries, has triggered the development of a series of high-provitamin A crops, including Golden Rice as the best-known example. Further carotenoid-biofortified crops have been generated by using genetic engineering approaches or through classical breeding. In this review, we depict carotenoid metabolism in plants and provide an update on the development of carotenoid-biofortified plants and their potential to meet needs and expectations. Furthermore, we discuss the possibility of using natural variation for carotenoid biofortification and the potential of gene editing tools. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Carotenoids recent advances in cell and molecular biology edited by Johannes von Lintig and Loredana Quadro.

Rising Plasma Beta-Carotene Is Associated With Diminishing C-Reactive Protein in Patients Consuming a Dark Green Leafy Vegetable-Rich, Low Inflammatory Foods Everyday (LIFE) Diet

Chronic inflammation contributes to a number of chronic diseases and can be assessed with C-reactive protein (CRP). In this longitudinal retrospective chart review, we investigate whether patients intensively counseled to eat a specific diet high in dark green leafy vegetables, and thus high beta-carotene, have reductions in plasma high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP). We term this the Low Inflammatory Foods Everyday (LIFE) diet. Forty-three patients in a community practice instructed to eat the LIFE diet met inclusion criteria. The CRP levels were measured at least twice over the course of up to a year. Adherence to the diet was objectively assessed by measurement of plasma beta-carotene, which is abundant in dark green leafy vegetables, and subjectively by serial interviews. The change in beta-carotene was inversely correlated with change in CRP (r = -0.68, P < .0001). Additionally, patients subjectively classified as adherent had higher beta-carotene (P < .0001) and lower CRP (P = .002) as compared with patients who were classified as nonadherent. These longitudinal findings suggest that adherence to the LIFE diet leads to increased beta-carotene and decreased CRP. Thus, this type of diet may reduce risk or severity of chronic diseases involving inflammation.

Targeting Reactive Oxygen Species in Cancer via Chinese Herbal Medicine

Recently, reactive oxygen species (ROS), a class of highly bioactive molecules, have been extensively studied in cancers. Cancer cells typically exhibit higher levels of basal ROS than normal cells, primarily due to their increased metabolism, oncogene activation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. This moderate increase in ROS levels facilitates cancer initiation, development, and progression; however, excessive ROS concentrations can lead to various types of cell death. Therefore, therapeutic strategies that either increase intracellular ROS to toxic levels or, conversely, decrease the levels of ROS may be effective in treating cancers via ROS regulation. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is a major type of natural medicine and has greatly contributed to human health. CHMs have been increasingly used for adjuvant clinical treatment of tumors. Although their mechanism of action is unclear, CHMs can execute a variety of anticancer effects by regulating intracellular ROS. In this review, we summarize the dual roles of ROS in cancers, present a comprehensive analysis of and update the role of CHM—especially its active compounds and ingredients—in the prevention and treatment of cancers via ROS regulation and emphasize precautions and strategies for the use of CHM in future research and clinical trials.

Carotenoids: How Effective Are They to Prevent Age-Related Diseases?

Despite an increase in life expectancy that indicates positive human development, a new challenge is arising. Aging is positively associated with biological and cognitive degeneration, for instance cognitive decline, psychological impairment, and physical frailty. The elderly population is prone to oxidative stress due to the inefficiency of their endogenous antioxidant systems. As many studies showed an inverse relationship between carotenoids and age-related diseases (ARD) by reducing oxidative stress through interrupting the propagation of free radicals, carotenoid has been foreseen as a potential intervention for age-associated pathologies. Therefore, the role of carotenoids that counteract oxidative stress and promote healthy aging is worthy of further discussion. In this review, we discussed the underlying mechanisms of carotenoids involved in the prevention of ARD. Collectively, understanding the role of carotenoids in ARD would provide insights into a potential intervention that may affect the aging process, and subsequently promote healthy longevity.

Oxidized Vitamin C (DHA) Overcomes Resistance to EGFR-targeted Therapy of Lung Cancer through Disturbing Energy Homeostasis

Switching aerobic respiration to anaerobic glycolysis of cancer cells plays an important role in development and progression of acquired resistance. Since vitamin C enabled the inhibition of glycolysis of cancer cells, and erlotinib-resistant sub-line of HCC827 (ER6 cells) switched its metabolic features to higher glycolysis for survival, we hypothesize that vitamin C is able to inhibit glycolysis of ER6 cells. In this study, we found that both reduced vitamin C and oxidized vitamin C (DHA) could selectively suppress the viability of ER6 cells. DHA was efficient in inhibiting glycolysis and leading to energy crisis, which could be one mechanism for overcoming drug resistance to erlotinib of ER6 cells. Our data suggest that applying DHA could be a novel treatment strategy for NSCLC with acquired resistance to targeted therapy.

Selected Methods of Extracting Carotenoids, Characterization, and Health Concerns: A Review

Carotenoids are the most powerful nutrients (medicine) on earth due to their potent antioxidant properties. The ability of these tetraterpenoids in obviating human chronic ailments like cancer, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes has drawn public attention toward these novel compounds. Conventionally, carotenoids have been extracted from plant materials and agro-industrial byproduct using different solvents, but these procedures result in contaminating the target compound (carotenoids) with extraction solvents. Furthermore, some utilized solvents are not safe and hence are harmful to the environment. This has attracted criticism from consumers, ecologists, environmentalists, and public health workers. However, there is clear consumer preference for carotenoids from natural origin without traces of extracting solvent. Therefore, this review seeks to discuss methods for higher recovery of pure carotenoids without contamination from a solvent. Methods such as enzyme-based extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, Soxhlet extraction, ultrasonic extraction, and postextraction treatment (saponification) are discussed. Merits and demerits of these methods along with health concerns during intake of carotenoids were also considered.