类胡萝卜素的功能研究进展(综述)

Advances of the Function of Beta-carotene and Carotenoid

β-胡萝卜素和类胡萝卡素广泛存在自然界中。作为维生素A的前体，可提高人体的免疫能力，也是一种抗氧化剂，可淬灭与清除机体内产生的自由基。重要的是β-胡萝卜素和类胡萝卜素能预防癌症和减缓癌症的发展，细胞缝间联结的理论支持了类胡萝卜素的具有这一效果的看法，但是根据人群调查也出现类胡萝卜素具有负结果的报道。本文就类胡萝卜素的营养功能的研究现状作一概要综述。

The function of gcarotene and carotenoids is reviewed. It is a common knowledgethat g-carotene is the precursor of vitamin A. Besides this, it is known that β-carotene andcarotenoids have the positive effect on the immune system. They can incrcase both the activi-ties and the numbers of T and B lymphocy and NK cell. The main effects of β-carotene andcarotenoids are that they have antioxidant activities, and can quench or scavenge the freeradicals, reduce the damage of cell, cell membrane and its main genetic composition, e. g.nucleic acid, protein, lipid etc. Therefore gcarotene and cartenoids can prevent cancer, re-duce cancer mortarity and morbidity. This positive function of carotenoid is supported by thehypothesis of 'gap junctional intercellular communication'. Though the contrary result wasreported by epidemic investigation, it will be clear in the near future.