Carotenoids Help Reduce the Risk of Lung Cancer.More men and women die of lung cancer lung cancer, cancer that originates in the tissues of the lungs. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States in both men and women. Like other cancers, lung cancer occurs after repeated insults to the genetic material of the cell. than of any other cancer in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . Smoking is known to be a very important risk factor for developing lung cancer. Other factors in our diets are also being examined to see if dietary changes could reduce our risk. In a study of more than 100,000 men and women, those who ate more foods containing the carotenoids Carotenoids Carotenoids are yellow to deep-red pigments. Mentioned in: Vitamin A Deficiency carotenoids (k alpha-carotene Alpha-carotene is a form of carotene with a β-ring at one end and an ε-ring at the other. It is the second most common form of carotine. and lycopene lycopene /ly·co·pene/ (li´ko-pen) the red carotenoid pigment of tomatoes and various berries and fruits. ly·co·pene n. had the lowest risk. Alpha-carotene is found in bright orange vegetables like carrots and pumpkin pumpkin, common name for the genus Cucurbita of the family Cucurbitaceae (gourd family), a group that includes the pumpkins and squashes—the names may be used interchangeably and without botanical distinction. C. , while lycopene is found in tomatoes and products made from tomatoes. In subjects who never smoked, a 63% reduction in the incidence of lung cancer was seen in those with the highest intakes of alpha-carotene. Smokers had a reduction in risk of developing lung cancer when they had high intakes of lycopene. These results may make some people look for a pill containing lycopene or alpha-carotene. Don't do it. The study showed that eating a diet high in a variety of carotenoids (not just lycopene or alpha-carotene) reduced risk of lung cancer. There is also a strong possibility that other substances found in plants may reduce the risk of cancers, including lung cancer. These important substances would not be found in a pill that only has alpha-carotene or lycopene. Also, no matter how healthy your diet is, there is still a greater risk of developing lung cancer if you smoke. Michaud DS, Feskanich D, Rimm EB, et al. 2000. Intake of specific carotenoids and risk of lung cancer in 2 prospective US cohorts. Am J Clin Nutr 72:990-997. |
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