In the human nutrition field, evidence suggests that higher blood levels of ??-carotene, as well as other carotenoids such as alpha-carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin and ??-cryptoxanthin might be associated with lower risk of several chronic diseases. ??-carotene, alpha-carotene and ??-cryptoxanthin have pro-vitamin A activity, while the other carotenoids have no pro-vitamin A activity (DRI,