> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.foodconsumer.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Lutein may help prevent hepatocellular carcinoma
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/lutein_hepatocellular_carcinoma_1129120614/
- Published: 2012-11-29T19:13:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:05:20.000Z
- Description: In rats given the carcinogen N-nitrosodiethylamine, lutein reduced liver damage markers and tissue changes, raised glutathione and lowered gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity. The researchers credit its antioxidant action plus effects on cytochrome P450 and detoxifying enzymes.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Supplements, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

By David Liu, PHD

Thursday Nov 29, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study in European Journal of Cancer Prevention suggests that taking lutein supplements may help reduce risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma or commonly known as liver cancer - a highly lethal malignancy.

E. R. Sindhu at College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Thrissur, Kerala, India and colleagues tested a lutein called oxycarotenoid lutein (3,3'-dihydroxy-β,ε-carotene) and found this supplement provides anticarcinogenic activity against chemicals-induced hepatocelluar carcinoma in rats.

In the study, lutein significantly reduced the morphological and pathological changes in the liver induced by N-nitrosodiethylamine - a cancer causing agent.

Compared to control rats, rats treated with lutein had significantly lower alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase, which was a good sign that lutein can provide the liver with some protection. And glutathione level was found high in treated rats, compared to control rats.

Additionally the activity of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, a marker of cellular proliferation, was found to be significantly reduced in both the serum and the liver in the rats treated with lutein.

Mechanistically, lutein could significantly inhibit cytochrome P450 enzymes in vitro and in vivo in rats and enhance the detoxifying enzymes such as glutathione-S-transferase and UDP glucuronyl transferase in vivo. 

The protection provided by lutein against hepatocelluar carcinoma may be a collective effect of its antioxidant activity and the inhibition of cytochrome P450 enzymes and inducing detoxifying enzymes, according to the researchers.

Also, lutein is nontoxic and expected to be one prime compound in the chemoprevention trials of the future, the researchers concluded.

Many things may increase risk of hepatocelluar carcinoma including pathogenic bacterial infection, alcohol drinking, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. It is known that eating a plant-based diet, a low salt diet, eating dinner early, using aspirin and statins, zinc supplements, antioxidants supplements may help reduce the risk.