The occurrence of carotenoid pigments in human blood and tissues has recently become an
area of renewed interest due to the observed inverse relationship between consumption of
carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables and risk of certain cancers. This article reviews current
knowledge of the kinds and concentrations of carotenoids in human plasma (or serum) and
solid tissues. Most reports have focused on the hydrocarbon carotenoids (lycopene, α-
carotene, and β-carotene) with fewer dealing with the more polar xanthophyll pigments. The …