DIETARY CAROTENOIDS PROTECT HUMAN-CELLS FROM DAMAGE

A physical chemistry technique based on singlet oxygen luminescence at about 1270 nm and a biological cell membrane technique were used to s tudy the quenching of singlet oxygen by four carotenoids bound to the surface of lymphoid cells. All the carotenoids studied showed a benefi cial effect in cell protection, but there were subtle differences betw een them.