Carotenoids may help to prevent diabetes
Data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey suggest that carotenoids may protect against the development of diabetes.
Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia examined concentrations of alpha carotene, beta carotene, cryptoxanthin, lutein/zeaxanthin, and lycopene in 1010 people (aged from 40 to 74) with normal glucose tolerance. These were compared with those from 277 people with impaired glucose tolerance and 148 people with newly diagnosed diabetes.
The results showed that beta carotene and lycopene concentrations were highest in those with normal glucose tolerance, lower in those with impaired glucose tolerance and even lower in people with newly diagnosed diabetes. These results add weight to the evidence that chemicals in fruit and vegetables reduce the risk of developing diabetes.
