Crabtree D V, Adler A J
Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Med Hypotheses. 1997 Feb;48(2):183-7. doi: 10.1016/s0306-9877(97)90286-3.
An hypothesis is presented that is opposed to the conventional viewpoint that beta-carotene is an in vivo free-radical scavenger. It is suggested that there are biochemical reasons why beta-carotene, other carotenoids, and especially their metabolites may be harmful to mammalian systems. Finally, the hypothesis that the macular pigment carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, are free-radical scavengers is challenged.
本文提出了一种与传统观点相反的假说，传统观点认为β-胡萝卜素是体内自由基清除剂。文中指出，从生物化学角度来看，β-胡萝卜素、其他类胡萝卜素，尤其是它们的代谢产物可能对哺乳动物系统有害。最后，黄斑色素类胡萝卜素叶黄素和玉米黄质是自由基清除剂这一假说也受到了挑战。
