There is strong scientific evidence in support of the role of oxidative stress in the causation and progression of several human chronic diseases. Several environmental factors including diet contribute towards oxidative stress. There is a great deal of interest in reducing the damaging effects induced by oxidative stress. In this regard antioxidants have been studied extensively. Diet and nutritional supplements are the main sources of antioxidants which include both naturally occurring phytochemicals such as the carotenoids and polyphenols as well as vitamins. Carotenoids are a group of fat-soluble compounds that are present naturally in plant and animals having strong antioxidant properties. Although β- carotene has been the most studied carotenoid, in recent years others such as lycopene have also been considered as therapeutic agents in the management of oxidative stress and human health. Unlike carotenoids, polyphenols are a group of water-soluble compounds that represent universally in plants. Extensive research is being conducted in terms of their occurrence, chemistry, metabolism, mechanisms of action and role in the prevention and management of human diseases. Basic, epidemiological and clinical studies have all provided important information regarding these naturally occurring phytochemicals. This presentation will review current up to date information about antioxidant carotenoids, polyphenols and vitamins as to their role in human nutrition and health.
Learning objectives
- Provide in depth understanding of the role of oxidative stress in the causation of human diseases
- Provide in depth understanding of the role of carotenoids, polyphenols, and vitamins as antioxidant compounds naturally present in the diet in the prevention and management of human health
- Importance of oxidative stress in human health
- Importance of naturally occurring antioxidant carotenoids, polyphenols, and vitamins in mitigating the damaging effect of oxidative stress and the prevention of human diseases
- Nutritional supplements as important source of the antioxidant carotenoids, polyphenols and vitamins
CE Credits
Canadian Residents: General- 1.0 credit; Category A-CONO; Category C-British Columbia
OANP: General- 1.0 credit
AANP: General- 1.0 credit
Dr Venket A Rao, MSc, PhD
Dr Rao is Professor Emeritus, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. He has established a major focus in the area of diet and health with particular emphasis on the role of intestinal microflora and dietary phytochemicals. In the area of microflora, he carried out research investigating the relationship between intestinal microflora, immune function, and endocrinology as they relate to human health disorders such as chronic fatigue syndrome and psychological disorders. He has published several basic and clinical papers in peer reviewed journals in this area.
Recently he edited and published a book titled ‘Probiotics and prebiotics in human nutrition and health’ distributed by Intech Publisher. Another area of his research interest is studying the role of natural ingredients such as the phytochemicals in human health. His particular interest in this area of research is to study the role of oxidative stress and antioxidants in the causation and prevention of chronic diseases, with particular emphasis on the role of carotenoids and polyphenols in the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease, cancer and osteoporosis. He is credited for bringing international awareness to the role of lycopene in human health. Microencapsulation and surface coating of nutraceuticals, their particle sizes, stability, bioavailability, and biological activity is another area of research he has undertaken He has published over one hundred articles in scientific journals and participated in many national and international scientific conferences. He has authored and co-authored several books and book chapters directed towards human health. In addition to editing two books on ‘Lycopene and Human Health’ he has edited and published four other books: Phytochemicals: A global perspective of their role in nutrition and health; Phytochemicals as nutraceuticals; Phytochemicals – Isolation, Characterisation and Role in Human Health, and Lycopene: Global Perspective of its Role in Human Nutrition and Health.
Dr Rao has a distinguished academic career spanning over 50 years as an educator and researcher. He served as a Senior Scientific Consultant to provincial and federal government agencies and food and pharmaceutical industries globally. He is popularly sought by the international media to express his opinions on the subjects of food safety, nutrition and health.
