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Biological Actions of Carotenoids^{1 ,2}

Introduction

Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011

Of approximately 600 naturally occurring characterized carotenoids, fewer than 10% serve as precursors of vitamin A in mammals. Apart from vitamin A formation, carotenoids show unique physicochemical properties and interesting biological effects. The inverse association between the ingestion of carotenoid-containing fruits and vegetables and the risk of certain forms of cancer has attracted significant attention. In considering the effects of carotenoids in mammals, a distinction should clearly be made among functions, actions and associations. Furthermore, carotenoids might well be classified in relation to defined biological actions, and not just in relation to nutritional activity.

KEY WORDS: • carotenoids • functions • actions • associations • biological activity • nutritional activity

¹ Presented as part of the symposium, "Biological Actions of Carotenoids," given at the 72nd annual meeting of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, Las Vegas, NV, May 2, 1988, and supported by grants from the BASF Corporation, Hoffmann-LaRoche, and the National Dairy Council.

² Journal Paper No. J-13223 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa. Project No. 2534.

Manuscript received 13 July 1988. Revision accepted 29 August 1988.

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