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Science 11 May 1984:
Vol. 224. no. 4649, pp. 569 - 573
DOI: 10.1126/science.6710156

Articles

Science, Vol 224, Issue 4649, 569-573
Copyright © 1984 by American Association for the Advancement of Science


articles

beta-Carotene: an unusual type of lipid antioxidant

GW Burton and KU Ingold

The mechanism of lipid peroxidation and the manner in which antioxidants function is reviewed. beta-Carotene is a purported anticancer agent, which is believed by some to have antioxidant action of a radical-trapping type. However, definitive experimental support for such action has been lacking. New experiments in vitro show that beta-carotene belongs to a previously unknown class of biological antioxidants. Specifically, it exhibits good radical-trapping antioxidant behavior only at partial pressures of oxygen significantly less than 150 torr, the pressure of oxygen in normal air. Such low oxygen partial pressures are found in most tissues under physiological conditions. At higher oxygen pressures, beta-carotene loses its antioxidant activity and shows an autocatalytic, prooxidant effect, particularly at relatively high concentrations. Similar oxygen-pressure-dependent behavior may be shown by other compounds containing many conjugated double bonds.


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Arch Neurol 54, 762-765
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Topical Review: Antidyskinetic Drug Therapy for Pediatric Movement Disorders.
M. R. Pranzatelli (1996)
J Child Neurol 11, 355-369
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Lack of Effect of Long-Term Supplementation with Beta Carotene on the Incidence of Malignant Neoplasms and Cardiovascular Disease.
C. H. Hennekens, J. E. Buring, J. E. Manson, M. Stampfer, B. Rosner, N. R. Cook, C. Belanger, F. LaMotte, J. M. Gaziano, P. M. Ridker, et al. (1996)
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Scavenging of Nitrogen Dioxide, Thiyl, and Sulfonyl Free Radicals by the Nutritional Antioxidant beta-Carotene.
S. A. Everett, M. F. Dennis, K. B. Patel, S. Maddix, S. C. Kundu, and R. L. Willson (1996)
J. Biol. Chem. 271, 3988-3994
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Singlet Oxygen and Peroxyl Radicals Regulate Carotenoid Biosynthesis in Phaffia rhodozyma.
W. A. Schroeder and E. A. Johnson (1995)
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Suppressive Effect of {beta}-Carotene on the Development of Pulmonary Foam Cells in Rats with Hyper {beta}-Lipoproteinemia.
K. Shibuya, M. Tajima, T. Saitoh, J. Yamate, and T. Nunoya (1995)
Toxicol Pathol 23, 47-55
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Nutrition Support in Bone Marrow Transplant Recipients.
V. M. Herrmann and P. J. Petruska (1993)
Nutr Clin Pract 8, 19-27
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Hypocarotenemia in Patients Fed Enterally with Commercial Liquid Diets.
P. E. Bowen, S. Mobarhan, C. Henderson, M. Stacewicz-Sapuntzakis, H. Friedman, and R. Kaiser (1988)
JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 12, 484-489
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Antioxidant Status in Persons With and Without Senile Cataract.
P. F. Jacques, L. T. Chylack Jr, R. B. McGandy, and S. C. Hartz (1988)
Arch Ophthalmol 106, 337-340
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Bilirubin is an antioxidant of possible physiological importance.
R Stocker, Y Yamamoto, A. McDonagh, A. Glazer, and B. Ames (1987)
Science 235, 1043-1046
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Diet and Lung Cancer: A Review of the Epidemiologic Evidence in Humans.
G. A. Colditz, M. J. Stampfer, and W. C. Willett (1987)
Arch Intern Med 147, 157-160
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Multiple-Organ-Failure Syndrome.
C. J. Carrico, J. L. Meakins, J. C. Marshall, D. Fry, and R. V. Maier (1986)
Arch Surg 121, 196-208
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