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Carotenoids

By Shereen Jegtvig, About.com

Updated April 28, 2008

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

Definition: Phytochemicals found in red, orange or yellow fruits and vegetables. Your body can transform some carotenoids into vitamin A, especially beta-carotene. Other precursors to vitamin A include alpha-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin.

Other carotenoids cannot be turned into vitamin A. However, they trigger powerful antioxidant reactions in your body. These include lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin.

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