Carotenoid Complex Study

 The following study on NeoLife Carotenoid Complex appeared in the medical literature recently. The study is important because there are many carotenoids and each has a specific function. A carotenoid source which comes from foods with many carotenoids provides better nutrition than a synthetic source of these fat soluble coloring pigments. Even limiting carotenoid intake to just one food like carrots has its limitations.

Another important point is that carotenoids have a competitive absorption. Very high levels of just one carotenoid like lutein or beta-carotene can interfere with the absorption of others such as lycopene or astaxanthin that may be important for an individual's health. Lycopene protects from prostate cancer and astaxanthin protects the mitochondria where energy is produced in the cells.

I have included the entire abstract on the NeoLife Carotenoid Complex research for you below.

The immunomodulatory effect of Carotenoid complex from Golden Neo-Life Dynamite (GNLD) and carrot extracted Carotenoid was assessed using 24 albino Wistar rats. The rats were assigned to 4 groups of 6 rats each consisting of group 1(control group treated with distilled water), group 2 (treated with olive oil), group 3 (treated with carrot extract + olive oil) and group 4 (treated with GNLD Carotenoid complex + olive oil). The concentration of carrot extracted Carotenoid and that of the GNLD Carotenoid complex were 559 mg/kg. The animals were sacrificed after 21 days of treatment and whole blood collected for analysis of immune parameters. The parameters included; percentage lymphocytes, percentage eosinophils, percentage monocytes and platelet count. There were significant increases [P < 0.05]; in groups 3 and 4 which received carrot extract and carotenoid complex supplement when compared to group 1 and 2 which received distilled water and olive oil. This supports the claim that carotenoids have immunomodulatory effects. However, there were significant increases [P < 0.05]; in percentage lymphocytes (40.15 +/- 1.33); monocytes (2.50 +/- 1.31);, neutrophils (60.08 +/- 2.06) and platelet count (7.91 +/- 0.53) in group 4 which received carotenoid complex when compared to that of group 3 which received carrot extract; lymphocytes (33.01 +/- 3.20), monocytes (1.52 +/- 0.52), neutrophils (60.12 +/- 1.50) and platelet count (7.81 +/- 0.52). These significant increases[P < 0.05]; show that both carotenoids have immunomodulatory effects; and that the GNLD carotenoid complex which consists of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene and alpha-tocopherol is more potent in its immunomodulatory effect compared to the carrot extracted carotenoid which contained mostly alpha-carotene and beta-carotene alone.

Reference:

• Reference for Carotenoid Complex study. Comparative effect of carotenoid complex from Golden Neo-Life Dynamite (GNLD) and carrot extracted carotenoids on immune parameters in albino Wistar rats. Niger J Physiol Sci. 2006 Jun-Dec;21(1-2):1-4. doi: 10.4314/njps.v21i1-2.53930.