Effect of beta-carotene and canthaxanthin on the immune responses of the rat

• Published in: The Journal of nutrition Vol. 116; no. 11; pp. 2254 - 2262
• Main Authors: Bendich, A, Shapiro, S.S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD American Society for Nutritional Sciences 01.11.1986
• Subjects: Animals; Applied sciences; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; beta Carotene; Biological and medical sciences; Canthaxanthin; CAROTENOIDE; CAROTENOIDES; CAROTENOIDS; Carotenoids - analogs & derivatives; Carotenoids - metabolism; Carotenoids - pharmacology; Concanavalin A - pharmacology; DIET; DIETA; Exact sciences and technology; IMMUNE RESPONSE; Immunity - drug effects; Immunomodulators; Lipopolysaccharides - pharmacology; Liver - metabolism; Male; Medical sciences; Other techniques and industries; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phytohemagglutinins - pharmacology; RAT; RATA; RATS; Rats, Inbred WKY; REGIME ALIMENTAIRE; REPONSE IMMUNITAIRE; RESPUESTA INMUNOLOGICA; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Vitamin A - blood; Vitamin A - metabolism; Vitamin E - blood; Immune response; Rat; Carotene; Rodentia; Cellular immunity; Splenocyte; Retinol; Immunomodulator; B»-Lymphocyte; Vertebrata; Immunostimulant agent; Mammalia; Diet; T-Lymphocyte; Canthaxanthine; Mitogen
• ISSN: 0022-3166; 1541-6100
• DOI: 10.1093/jn/116.11.2254

Male Wistar Kyoto rats were fed diets containing either 2 g/kg (0.2%) beta-carotene, canthaxanthin or basal diet for up to 66 wk. Plasma and tissues were analyzed for vitamin A, vitamin E, beta-carotene or canthaxanthin levels. In vitro immune responses of splenocytes to T- and B-lymphocyte mitogens were determined. T- and B-lymphocyte responses were consistently enhanced in the groups fed beta-carotene or canthaxanthin. Since canthaxanthin cannot be converted to vitamin A, the immunoenhancement seen in these experiments is attributed to a carotenoid effect.