Antioxidants can reduce or prevent many of these side effects, and for some supplements the protective effect results from activities other than their antioxidant properties. Certain side effects, however, such as alopecia and myelosuppression, are not prevented by antioxidants, and agents that interfere with these side effects may also interfere with the anticancer effects of chemotherapy. From a discussion in Nutrition and Cancer Int J Cancer, Feb 2001 American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 4 Unit of Nutrition and Cancer, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France. The consumption of vegetables and fruit may protect against many types of cancer, but research evidence is not compelling for breast cancer.
Carotenoids are pigments that are present in most plants and have known antioxidant properties.
Blood concentrations of carotenoids have been proposed as integrated biochemical markers of vegetable, fruit, and synthetic supplements consumed. Remember Ann is NOT A Doctor and has NO medical training.