Carotenoids, Oxidative Stress and Disease

Dear Colleagues,

Oxidative stress is involved in the aetiology of many diseases, including chronic diseases such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, and other cardiometabolic complications including the metabolic syndrome. Many of these health issues are related to dietary patterns and the intake of macro- and also micronutrients. However, in addition, plant bioactives have also been shown to play a role, and many of these phytochemicals or secondary plant compounds, including carotenoids, have been pointed out in epidemiological studies to be related to the prevalence of chronic diseases.

Among these plant bioactives, carotenoids—mostly of plant, but in part of fungal or bacterial origin—are a remarkable and promising group of terpenoids. Their dietary intake and plasma levels have been related to the incidence of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, and even total mortality. While formerly mostly appraised for their antioxidant properties, quenching reactive oxygen species, it has become apparent that other qualities, such as their action on the cellular level—e.g., via nuclear receptors and transcription factors—do also appear to play a vital role. However, many studies have emphasized the relation of carotenoids and oxidative stress pathways and markers, and their relation to inflammation and disease. Nevertheless, many mechanistic aspects of carotenoids, such as their place and mode of action, metabolism and bioactive metabolites, and plasma and/or tissue concentrations required for positive health effects, among other things, remain poorly understood.

Thus, it is with great pleasure that I invite you to take part in this Special Issue and together try to describe our state-of-the-art knowledge of carotenoids, oxidative stress and related pathways, and their markers and diseases. Manuscripts dealing with mechanistic effects (based on cell models/in vitro) employing animal or human studies and observational studies related to oxidative stress and markers thereof are also welcome.

Dr. Torsten Bohn
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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