Essay Archive - Beta Carotene
Beta Carotene
Beta-carotene is a member of the carotenoid family and has over 500 relatives.
Carotenoids are yellow-to-red pigments found in all green plant tissues and in
some species of algae. So far 21 different carotenoids have been found in human
blood. The most abundant ones are alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein,
lycopene, cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin. A molecule of alpha-carotene, beta-
carotene, or cryptoxanthin can be split into two molecules of vitamin A in the
body but the conversion of beta-carotene is by far the most effective. The six
carotenoids are all antioxi....
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