Beta-Cryptoxanthin

OTHER NAME(S): Caricaxanthin, Cryptoxanthin, Cryptoxanthine, Cryptoxanthol, Beta,beta-carotene-3-olangustifolia, Beta-Cryptoxantina, Bêta-cryptoxanthine

Overview

Beta-cryptoxanthin is a type of organic pigment called a carotenoid. It's related to vitamin A and found in high levels in the blood.

Beta-cryptoxanthin is similar to other carotenoids, including beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Foods rich in beta-cryptoxanthin include squash, peppers, tangerines, oranges, peaches, and papaya.

People use beta-cryptoxanthin for cancer, diabetes, obesity, liver disease, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Don't confuse beta-cryptoxanthin with other carotenoids, including beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. These are not the same.

References
  1. Ge XX, Xing MY, Yu LF, et al. Carotenoid intake and esophageal cancer risk: a meta-analysis. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2013;14(3):1911-8.
  2. Sengngam K, Hoc TH, Hang DV, Tran Ngoan L. Trans-Lycopene and ß-Cryptoxanthin Intake and Stomach Cancer in Vietnamese Men: A Pilot Case-Control Study. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2022;23(3):861-865.
  3. Kang T, Liu Y, Chen X, et al. Dietary carotenoid intake and risk of developing preeclampsia: a hospital-based case-control study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2022;22(1):427.
  4. Zhang W, Li W, Du J. Association between dietary carotenoid intakes and the risk of asthma in adults: a cross-sectional study of NHANES, 2007-2012. BMJ Open 2022;12(6):e052320.
  5. Qiu Z, Chen X, Geng T, et al. Associations of serum carotenoids with risk of cardiovascular mortality among individuals with type 2 diabetes: Results from NHANES. Diabetes Care 2022;45(6):1453-1461.
  6. Aune D, Keum N, Giovannucci E, et al. Dietary intake and blood concentrations of antioxidants and the risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer, and all-cause mortality: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. Am J Clin Nutr 2018;108(5):1069-1091.
  7. Burri BJ, La Frano MR, Zhu C. Absorption, metabolism, and functions of beta-cryptoxanthin. Nutr Rev 2016;74(2):69-82.
  8. Kim SJ, Anh NH, Diem NC, et al. Effects of beta-cryptoxanthin on improvement in osteoporosis risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Foods 2021;10(2):296.
  9. Leoncini E, Nedovic D, Panic N, Pastorino R, Edefonti V, Boccia S. Carotenoid intake from natural sources and head and neck cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2015;24(7):1003-11.
  10. Haidari F, Hojhabrimanesh A, Helli B, Seyedian SS, Ahmadi-Angali K, Abiri B. A hypocaloric high-protein diet supplemented with beta-cryptoxanthin improves non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Gastroenterol 2020;20(1):349.
  11. Iwata A, Fujiwara S, Matsubara S, Miyazaki K. Intake of beta-cryptoxanthin with fat-containing food increases ß-cryptoxanthin serum level and palmar yellowness in healthy adults. Nutr Res 2019;71:65-71.
  12. Yuan JM, Stram DO, Arakawa K, Lee HP, Yu MC. Dietary cryptoxanthin and reduced risk of lung cancer: the Singapore Chinese Health Study. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2003;12(9):890-8.
  13. Breithaupt DE, Weller P, Wolters M, Hahn A. Plasma response to a single dose of dietary beta-cryptoxanthin esters from papaya (Carica papaya L.) or non-esterified beta-cryptoxanthin in adult human subjects: a comparative study. Br J Nutr 2003;90(4):795-801.
  14. Wu S, Liu Y, Michalek JE, et al. Carotenoid intake and circulating carotenoids are inversely associated with the risk of bladder cancer: A dose-response meta-analysis. Adv Nutr 2020;11(3):630-643.
  15. Granado-Lorencio F, Lagarda MJ, Garcia-López FJ, et al. Effect of beta-cryptoxanthin plus phytosterols on cardiovascular risk and bone turnover markers in post-menopausal women: a randomized crossover trial. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2014;24(10):1090-6.
  16. Kobori M, Ni Y, Takahashi Y, et al. Beta-cryptoxanthin alleviates diet-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by suppressing inflammatory gene expression in mice. PLoS One 2014;9(5):e98294.
  17. Uchiyama S, Yamaguchi M. Oral administration of beta-cryptoxanthin prevents bone loss in streptozotocin-diabetic rats in vivo. Biol Pharm Bull 2005;28(9):1766-9.
  18. Aschoff JK, Rolke CL, Breusing N, et al. Bioavailability of beta-cryptoxanthin is greater from pasteurized orange juice than from fresh oranges - a randomized cross-over study. Mol Nutr Food Res 2015;59(10):1896-904.
  19. Umigai N, Murakami K, Shimizu R, Takeda R, Azuma T. Safety evaluation and plasma carotenoid accumulation in healthy adult subjects after 12 weeks of paprika oleoresin supplementation. J Oleo Sci 2018;67(2):225-234.
  20. Hirose A, Terauchi M, Hirano M, et al. Higher intake of cryptoxanthin is related to low body mass index and body fat in Japanese middle-aged women. Maturitas 2017;96:89-94.
  21. Wang L, Li B, Pan MX, Mo XF, Chen YM, Zhang CX. Specific carotenoid intake is inversely associated with the risk of breast cancer among Chinese women. Br J Nutr 2014;111(9):1686-95.
  22. Curhan SG, Stankovic KM, Eavey RD, Wang M, Stampfer MJ, Curhan GC. Carotenoids, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and folate and risk of self-reported hearing loss in women. Am J Clin Nutr 2015;102(5):1167-75.