Carotenoids and Retinoids

The presence of carotenoids in the diet and their role in human health has become a subject of unprecedented interest. A roundtable discussion on the Safety of ß-Carotene and a workshop on Carotenoids and Retinoids: Molecular Aspects and Health Issues were held at the annual Oxygen Club of California (OCC) conference in Santa Barbara, California, on March 10-13, 2004. The chapters in this book represent an account of the information presented at the workshop, combined with several additional invited contributions to cover topics more completely that are currently at the cutting edge of research. Some of the highlights of this book include a thorough review of the special role that vitamin A intake plays in the health status of developing countries, the essential role of vitamin A in cell signaling, the molecular targets involved in carotenoid action in smoke-induced lung pathology, and how carotenoids are beneficial in cardiovascular health