HYPER-BETA-CAROTENEMIA UNRELATED TO DIET - A CASE OF BRAIN-TUMOR

In addition to the provitamin A function of some carotenoids, many of them exhibit antioxidant activity. Epidemiological studies show that h igh serum levels and/or elevated intake of carotenoids have a protecto r effect against several chronic and degenerative diseases. We determi ned the levels and studied the behavior of the major carotenoids and r etinol in serum of a brain tumor patient receiving standard (carotenoi d-free) artificial enteral nutrition for eight months. After nearly tw o months on this diet the retinol level was in the upper region of nor mal range and the beta-carotene concentration was unusually high. Anal yses after several months on this diet showed a decrease in retinol, w hereas the beta-carotene concentration had doubled (up to 203 mu g/dl) . Other carotenoids usually found in serum were present in very small amounts or not at all. We conclude that, although diet is an important factor in the presence and proportion of carotenoids in serum, the ca se we report here appears to indicate that other factors related to th e development of certain diseases may be relevant determinants of chan ges in the carotenoid profile.