α-Carotene (alpha-carotene) is a form of carotene with a β-ionone ring at one end and an α-ionone ring at the opposite end. It is the second most common form of carotene.
Human physiology
In American and Chinese adults, the mean concentration of serum α-carotene was 4.71 μg/dL. Including 4.22 μg/dL among men and 5.31 μg/dL among women.[1][2]
Dietary sources
The following vegetables are rich in alpha-carotene:[1]
- Yellow-orange vegetables: Carrots (the main source for U.S. adults), sweet potatoes, pumpkin, winter squash
- Dark-green vegetables: Broccoli, green beans, green peas, spinach, turnip greens, collards, leaf lettuce, avocado
Research
A 2018 meta-analysis found that both dietary and circulating α-carotene are associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality. The highest circulating α-carotene category, compared to the lowest, correlated with a 32% reduction in the risk of all-cause mortality, while increased dietary α-carotene intake was linked to a 21% decrease in the risk of all-cause mortality.[3]
References
- ^ a b Li C, Ford ES, Zhao G, Balluz LS, Giles WH, Liu S (March 2011). "Serum α-carotene concentrations and risk of death among US Adults: the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Follow-up Study". Arch. Intern. Med. 171 (6): 507–15. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2010.440. PMID 21098341. Archived from the original on November 29, 2010.
- Nordqvist C (November 22, 2010). "Those With High Alpha-Carotene Blood Levels Live Much Longer". Medical News Today.
- ^ Alpha-carotene Linked to Lower Mortality Rates Archived May 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Tufts Health and Nutrition Letter, March 2011
- ^ Jayedi A, Rashidy-Pour A, Parohan M, Zargar MS, Shab-Bidar S (2018). "Dietary Antioxidants, Circulating Antioxidant Concentrations, Total Antioxidant Capacity, and Risk of All-Cause Mortality: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Prospective Observational Studies". Adv Nutr. 9 (6): 701–716. doi:10.1093/advances/nmy040. PMC 6247336. PMID 30239557.
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