pte20201215001 Medicine / Wellness, Research / Development
According to two recent scientific studies, beta-carotene can protect against atherosclerosis
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Carrots: Beta-carotene is very healthy (Photo: unsplash.com, Jonathan Pielmayer) |
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Urbana (pte001 / 12/15/2020 / 6:00 AM) – Carrots are a good source of beta-carotene, which is a precursor to vitamin A. To get the full benefits of this superfood, according to a study by the University of Illinois http://illinois.edu however, an active enzyme is required. Beta-carotene is the bioactive substance that gives carrots their color. Studies in humans and mice have found that converting beta-carotene to vitamin A reduces the “bad” cholesterol in the blood.
According to the experts, beta-carotene can help protect against the development of atherosclerosis, which leads to an accumulation of fats and cholesterol in the arteries. According to research director Jaume Amengual, arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide.
The researchers conducted two studies to investigate the effects of beta-carotene on cardiovascular health. They acknowledged its importance and identified a crucial step in the process. Beta-carotene is transformed into vitamin A with the help of the enzyme beta-carotene oxygenase 1 (BCO1). A genetic variation determines whether a person has a more or less active version of BCO1. Amengual said a less active enzyme could make other sources of vitamin A in the diet necessary.
Genetic Variant relevant
The first study published in the Journal of Nutrition analyzed blood and DNA samples from 767 young adults between the ages of 18 and 25. As expected, the scientists found a connection between BCO1 activity and levels of “bad” cholesterol. “People who had a genetic variant that was linked to a more active enzyme, BCO1, had less cholesterol in their blood.”
The researchers followed up these results in a further study on mice published in the “Journal of Lipid Research”. “The human study found that people who weren’t making a lot of vitamin A had higher cholesterol. To see if that observation had long-term effects, we would have had to wait 70 years for cardiovascular disease Life is not feasible. That is why we use animals for certain studies to speed up the process. “
Beta-carontene lowers cholesterol
According to the researchers, the main results of the second study reflect those in humans. When beta-carotene was given to the mice, they had lower cholesterol levels. These animals developed minor atherosclerotic lesions or plaques in the arteries. According to Amengual, this means that mice that are fed beta-carotene are more fully protected against atherosclerosis than those fed without it.
In the second study, the researchers also examined the biochemical signaling pathways of these processes to determine where in the body the effect occurs. “We narrowed it down to the liver. This organ is responsible for the production and secretion of lipoproteins into the blood.” This also includes the “bad” cholesterol. “We observed that mice with high vitamin A levels slowed the secretion of lipids into the blood flow.”
According to the scientists, knowledge of the connection between the enzyme BCO1 and cholesterol is of immense importance. This is because high levels of beta-carotene in the blood are associated with health benefits. However, it could also be a sign of a less active BCO1 enzyme that is not converting the beta-carotene ingested into vitamin A. According to Amengual, up to 50 percent of the population have a less active variant of the enzyme.
(The End)
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