Cryptoxanthin

Every time you bite into a peach, papaya, tangerine, or orange, you are getting a healthy serving of cryptoxanthin, one of a select group of carotenoids that can be converted to vitamin A in the body. Two groups of people need to be concerned about getting enough cryptoxanthin: people who smoke or use tobacco products, and women. A 1993 study comparing blood carotenoid levels of women with cervical cancer with cancer-free women found that cancer-free women had significantly higher blood levels of cryptoxanthin, which suggest that cryptoxanthin may offer some protection against this form of cancer. If cryptoxanthin proves to protect against cancer, it would not be the first time that a carotenoid has been shown to have strong anticancer activity. Other studies have revealed that alpha carotene, beta carotene, and lycopene, among others, are potent free radical scavengers and cancer fighters.

Another new study suggests that cryptoxanthin may be depleted by smoking. Scientists compared the blood levels of vitamin E and carotenoids in men who chewed or smoked tobacco with blood levels in those who abstained from tobacco products. Tobacco users had significantly lower levels of cryptoxanthin than those who were tobacco free, which suggests that they should either eat more cryptoxanthin-rich foods or take a carotenoid supplement with cryptoxanthin. Cryptoxanthin is included in mixed carotenoid formulas.