Carotenoids are a group of lipid soluble antioxidants that are found in plants. In plants they allow the harvesting of light for photosynthesis under conditions of low light and protect the cells from oxidation under conditions of high light. Carotenoids are divided into two groups that include the saturated carotenes and the unsaturated xanthophylls. Common dietary carotenes include β-carotene, α-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, and γ-carotene whereas common dietary xanthophylls include lutein, astaxanthin, zeaxanthin, and fucoxanthin. Carotenes can generally be converted into vitamin A in humans, and both carotenes and xanthophylls are important cellular antioxidants. Evidence from animals suggests that β-carotene, α-carotene and lutein may be able to stimulate mitochondrial expression of uncoupling protein-1 in brown adipose tissue, a process that may increase thermogenesis. In brown seaweed, the xanthophyll fucoxanthin may also unregulate uncoupling protein-1 in brown and white adipose tissue and thus increase thermogenesis. Fucoxanthin may also inhibit the enzyme glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase which may decrease adipocyte differentiation and lipid storage, may decrease body fat, decrease fasting glucose levels and decrease cellular levels of proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ), thereby reducing the expression of adipogenic genes.
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Stohs, S. J. and Badmaev, V. 2016. A review of natural stimulant and non‐stimulant thermogenic agents. Phytotherapy Research. 30(5): 732-740
