This availability, however, means less is available for the retina and the brain, putting women at more risk for degenerative problems. “The idea is that men get a lot of the diseases that tend to kill you, but women get those diseases less often or later, so they persevere but with illnesses that are debilitating,” said Hammond.

Advertisement

“For example, of all of the existing cases of macular degeneration and dementia in the world two-thirds are women. These diseases that women suffer from for years are the very ones most amenable to prevention through lifestyle.”

Some research suggests that these differences may arise from different levels of exposure to oxidative stress both from lifestyle factors and internal factors such as endocrine differences.

If this is the case, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory elements in the diet may be a benign way to reduce oxidative and inflammatory stress and thus improve health.

Pigmented Carotenoids and their Health Benefits

Low bone mineral density can be detected in females in their 30s and accelerates after menopause, as noted by the researchers.

Studies have shown that some carotenoids may slow bone loss. These include lycopene — found in tomatoes, as well as beta-carotene and lutein (L), and zeaxanthin (Z) which are found in leafy greens and eggs.

The researchers also noted that higher levels of L and Z are linked to lower incidence and prevalence of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Previous research suggests that carotenoids inhibit brain beta-amyloid deposition and slow down fibril formation, both of which are associated with dementia.

They further noted that L and Z increase cellular efficiency and improve cognitive function in children, young adults, older adults, and those with cognitive impairment.

Other research shows that L and Z are crucial for infant development. One study found that women in the highest quartile of L and Z intake had children with a 38% lower risk of poor vision when assessed three years later.

The researchers added that other studies demonstrate that high levels of serum carotenoids have also been linked to a reduced risk of:

• Ovarian and breast cancer
• Sarcopenia
• Skin wrinkling
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Multiple sclerosis

How do Carotenoids Improve Health Especially in Women?

When asked about how pigmented carotenoids such as L and Z may improve health, Prof Billy Hammond of the Behavioral and Brain Sciences Faculty at the University of Georgia, one of the study’s authors, told Medical News Today:

“The old adage that you are what you eat is literally true. What you eat influences the composition of your brain and the chemicals called neurotransmitters and hormones that are involved in its function.”

He explained that the brain is composed of around 60% fat, which makes it especially vulnerable to oxidative stress. To counteract any potential damage, our brains typically incorporate lipid-soluble antioxidants from foods like eggs and leafy greens to protect the brain. Problems arise as modern diets tend to contain less of these antioxidants than needed.

While carotenoids consumed from food may improve health outcomes, research suggests that supplemental versions of these nutrients may not yield the same effect. This is because individual nutrients may not affect the body in the same way as when consumed as part of a fruit or vegetable.

With this in mind, Wendy L. Bennett, MD, associate professor at the School of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University, told: “Taking vitamin E or beta‐carotene supplements will not prevent or delay the onset of AMD. The same probably applies to vitamin C and the multivitamin (Centrum Silver) (as found in a clinical trial).”

“There is no evidence concerning other antioxidant supplements, such as lutein and zeaxanthin. Vitamin supplements may have harmful effects, and clear evidence of benefit is needed before they can be recommended,” she added.

The researchers concluded that given the high probability to help and low probability of harm, approaches targeting L and Z intake in women could be beneficial. When asked about the study’s limitations, Dr. Keller noted that future work should elucidate the mechanisms underlying the clinical results mentioned in this review.

Dr. Hammond added that it is very challenging to relate a single input such as vitamin E to a complex endpoint that develops over an entire lifetime. He added: “Most degenerative diseases, like dementia, are as complex as aging itself and involve many exposures that only matter a little at a given time but a lot when aggregated over 50 years. Imagine, for example, that a given dietary component decreases your risk by one percent a year. (It may seem small, however) One percent a year for 70 years though, means a reduction in risk of about 30%, which is huge.”

Dr. Bennett noted, however, that the researchers did not conduct original research, meaning that their synthesis and summary of evidence may be susceptible to bias.

Benefits of Other Nutrients to Women

When asked about what other nutrients that may have an effect on women’s health, Dr. Keller said: “In addition to carotenoids, flavonoids also are responsible for the colors of fruits and vegetables. Our team studies the potential of a flavonoid, (beta)-epicatechin, found in commonly consumed foods such as chocolate and tea. This compound improves vessel health in our studies. As women lose cardiovascular risk protection after menopause, supporting their vascular health through nutrients with targeted bioactivity may help women’s health in aging.”

General lifestyle factors such as getting more exercise and eating a healthy diet are also key to improving health. It is common to think of single components of diet – like drugs or ‘a pill for every ill’. While supplementing is sometimes a good strategy, optimizing your diet is the best approach in order to work.

Source: Medindia