Beta-Cryptoxanthin
Research reviewed: Up until 03/2026
Beta-Cryptoxanthin (Beta-cryptoxanthin) is a dietary supplement with 22 published peer-reviewed studies involving 8,167 participants, researched for Bone Health & Osteoporosis Prevention, Anti-inflammatory & Metabolic Effects, Cancer Prevention and 3 more areas.
Evidence at a Glance
Strength is scored by study design, sample size, study type, and outcomes
Bone Health & Osteoporosis Prevention
ModerateAnti-inflammatory & Metabolic Effects
ModerateCancer Prevention
ModerateProvitamin A & Metabolic Conversion
ModerateClinical trials
ModerateSystematic reviews
WeakResearch Visualised
Visual breakdown of the clinical data.
Study Quality Breakdown
What types of studies were conducted
Participants Per Study
Larger samples = more reliable results
Research Timeline
When the studies were published
All Studies
Detailed breakdown of each trial. Click to expand.
Bone Health & Osteoporosis Prevention
To investigate the association between dietary beta-cryptoxanthin intake and bone mineral density.
Study Type
Prospective cohort
Purpose
To investigate the association between dietary beta-cryptoxanthin intake and bone mineral density.
Dose
Dietary intake (observational)
Participants
3600 post-menopausal women in the Framingham study
Duration
4 years follow-up
Results
Higher beta-cryptoxanthin intake associated with 40% lower risk of hip fracture and significantly higher femoral neck BMD.
How They Measured It
DXA bone mineral density; dietary assessment by FFQ
To examine whether beta-cryptoxanthin promotes bone formation and prevents osteoporosis in ovariectomised rats.
Study Type
Animal study
Purpose
To examine whether beta-cryptoxanthin promotes bone formation and prevents osteoporosis in ovariectomised rats.
Dose
5-20 mg/kg beta-cryptoxanthin
Participants
Ovariectomised rat model
Duration
8 weeks
Results
Beta-cryptoxanthin significantly prevented bone loss, increased bone formation markers, and stimulated osteoblast differentiation.
How They Measured It
Bone mineral density, osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase, bone histomorphometry
To assess the relationship between serum beta-cryptoxanthin and bone turnover markers in older adults.
Study Type
Cross-sectional study
Purpose
To assess the relationship between serum beta-cryptoxanthin and bone turnover markers in older adults.
Dose
Observational
Participants
900 adults aged 50-75
Duration
Cross-sectional
Results
Higher serum beta-cryptoxanthin significantly associated with lower bone resorption markers and higher bone formation markers.
How They Measured It
Serum CTx, osteocalcin, P1NP; serum beta-cryptoxanthin by HPLC
Anti-inflammatory & Metabolic Effects
To evaluate serum beta-cryptoxanthin concentrations and markers of systemic inflammation.
Study Type
Cross-sectional epidemiological
Purpose
To evaluate serum beta-cryptoxanthin concentrations and markers of systemic inflammation.
Dose
Dietary intake (observational)
Participants
2500 adults in NHANES cohort
Duration
Cross-sectional
Results
Serum beta-cryptoxanthin in the highest quartile associated with 35% lower odds of elevated CRP vs lowest quartile.
How They Measured It
Serum hs-CRP, IL-6, TNF-alpha; serum carotenoid panel
To investigate anti-inflammatory signalling pathways activated by beta-cryptoxanthin.
Study Type
In vitro mechanistic study
Purpose
To investigate anti-inflammatory signalling pathways activated by beta-cryptoxanthin.
Dose
0.1-10 µM
Participants
Human macrophage cell line (THP-1)
Duration
24-hour treatment
Results
Beta-cryptoxanthin suppressed NF-kB activation and significantly reduced IL-1beta and TNF-alpha secretion in LPS-stimulated macrophages.
How They Measured It
NF-kB luciferase reporter, cytokine ELISA, Western blot
Cancer Prevention
To investigate dietary beta-cryptoxanthin and lung cancer risk.
Study Type
Prospective cohort
Purpose
To investigate dietary beta-cryptoxanthin and lung cancer risk.
Dose
Dietary intake (observational)
Participants
500+ lung cancer cases vs matched controls from 60,000-person cohort
Duration
10 years follow-up
Results
High dietary beta-cryptoxanthin associated with 36% reduced risk of lung cancer; strongest protection in smokers.
How They Measured It
Cancer registry linkage; dietary assessment by FFQ
To pool epidemiological evidence on beta-cryptoxanthin and cancer risk.
Study Type
Meta-analysis
Purpose
To pool epidemiological evidence on beta-cryptoxanthin and cancer risk.
Dose
Dietary exposure (observational)
Participants
Multiple cohort studies
Duration
Review
Results
Pooled RR for lung cancer 0.70 (95% CI 0.60-0.82) for highest vs lowest beta-cryptoxanthin intake. Protective effect also noted for prostate and colon cancer.
How They Measured It
Meta-analysis of prospective cohorts
Provitamin A & Metabolic Conversion
To assess the bioavailability and vitamin A conversion efficiency of beta-cryptoxanthin from citrus sources.
Study Type
Metabolic study
Purpose
To assess the bioavailability and vitamin A conversion efficiency of beta-cryptoxanthin from citrus sources.
Dose
6 mg beta-cryptoxanthin from mandarin juice
Participants
12 healthy adults
Duration
Single dose pharmacokinetics over 4 weeks
Results
Beta-cryptoxanthin converted to retinol with efficiency ~2.4x higher than beta-carotene on a weight basis; good bioavailability from food matrix.
How They Measured It
Isotope-labelled stable tracer; serum retinol conversion coefficient
To review the pleiotropic health effects of beta-cryptoxanthin beyond provitamin A activity.
Study Type
Systematic review
Purpose
To review the pleiotropic health effects of beta-cryptoxanthin beyond provitamin A activity.
Dose
Varied
Participants
Multiple studies reviewed
Duration
Review
Results
Beta-cryptoxanthin exhibits bone-promoting, anti-inflammatory, immune-modulating, and cancer-preventive effects independent of vitamin A conversion.
How They Measured It
Systematic literature synthesis
Clinical trials
To investigate the effects of Beta-Cryptoxanthin in safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of β-cryptoxanthin supplementation in healthy women: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinica
Study Type
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Beta-Cryptoxanthin in safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of β-cryptoxanthin supplementation in healthy women: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinica
Dose
Beta-Cryptoxanthin (dose not specified)
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
β-cryptoxanthin is a dietary carotenoid for which there have been few studies on the safety and pharmacokinetics following daily oral supplementation.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Beta-Cryptoxanthin in resistance-based training improves mitochondrial capacity and redox balance in aging adults, independent of polyphenol supplementation.
Study Type
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Beta-Cryptoxanthin in resistance-based training improves mitochondrial capacity and redox balance in aging adults, independent of polyphenol supplementation.
Dose
Beta-Cryptoxanthin (dose not specified)
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
30 days
Results
, combined RT and HIIT improved mitochondrial bioenergetics and muscle redox balance in middle-aged and older adults, whereas polyphenol supplementation did not augment these adaptations and may have blunted some vitamin-related responses. These findings underscore resistance-based exercise as a potent intervention for maintaining physical and mitochondrial health with age.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Beta-Cryptoxanthin in reflection spectroscopy-assessed skin carotenoids are sensitive to change in carotenoid intake in a 6-week randomized controlled feeding trial in a ra
Study Type
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Beta-Cryptoxanthin in reflection spectroscopy-assessed skin carotenoids are sensitive to change in carotenoid intake in a 6-week randomized controlled feeding trial in a ra
Dose
Beta-Cryptoxanthin (dose not specified)
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
Reflection spectroscopy, utilized by the Veggie Meter, is a less-expensive, noninvasive method to quantify skin carotenoids and is a valid approximation of fruit and vegetable (FV) intake. However, it is unknown to what degree Veggie Meter-assessed skin carotenoid score change is responsive to changes in carotenoid intake.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Beta-Cryptoxanthin in apolipoprotein e ε4-dependent associations between carotenoids and cognitive decline: findings from the mind (mediterranean-dash intervention for neur
Study Type
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Beta-Cryptoxanthin in apolipoprotein e ε4-dependent associations between carotenoids and cognitive decline: findings from the mind (mediterranean-dash intervention for neur
Dose
Beta-Cryptoxanthin (dose not specified)
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
Alzheimer disease (AD) prevention is a public health priority, yet the impact of dietary carotenoids on cognitive decline, particularly in apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 carriers, remains unclear.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Beta-Cryptoxanthin in cane toad (rhinella marina) vitamin a, vitamin e, and carotenoid kinetics.
Study Type
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Beta-Cryptoxanthin in cane toad (rhinella marina) vitamin a, vitamin e, and carotenoid kinetics.
Dose
Beta-Cryptoxanthin (dose not specified)
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
4 months
Results
s 1 and 2 were 11.6 ± 1.19 and 8.2 ± 0.74, respectively. Few statistically significant differences between diets at the same time point were noted (p < .05). The results from this study indicate that additional or alternative diet supplementation may be needed for cane toads (and potentially other amphibians) to mimic their free-ranging diets.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
Systematic reviews
To investigate the effects of Beta-Cryptoxanthin in not all carotenoids can reduce the risk of gastric cancer: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Study Type
Systematic review and meta-analysis
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Beta-Cryptoxanthin in not all carotenoids can reduce the risk of gastric cancer: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Dose
Beta-Cryptoxanthin (dose not specified)
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
osis, leading to high incidence and mortality rates. It is a significant public health concern globally. Early prevention is crucial in reducing the occurrence of gastric cancer, and dietary prevention, particularly focusing on carotenoids, has been considered a convenient and effective approach. However, the association between carotenoid intake and gastric cancer incidence remains controversial.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Beta-Cryptoxanthin in association of retinol and carotenoids content in diet and serum with risk for colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis.
Study Type
Systematic review and meta-analysis
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Beta-Cryptoxanthin in association of retinol and carotenoids content in diet and serum with risk for colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis.
Dose
Beta-Cryptoxanthin (dose not specified)
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
Colorectal cancer (CRC) risk is linked to serum and dietary retinol and carotenoids, according to clinical and epidemiological research. However, the findings are not consistent. As a result, we did this meta-analysis to determine the link between them.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Beta-Cryptoxanthin in low blood carotenoid status in dementia and mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Study Type
Systematic review and meta-analysis
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Beta-Cryptoxanthin in low blood carotenoid status in dementia and mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Dose
Beta-Cryptoxanthin (dose not specified)
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
tenoids play a role in delaying and preventing dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, observational studies have found inconsistent results regarding the associations between blood carotenoid levels and the risk of dementia and MCI. We conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the relationship between blood carotenoid levels and the risk of dementia and MCI.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Beta-Cryptoxanthin in protective effects of dietary nutrients on hearing loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Study Type
Systematic review and meta-analysis
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Beta-Cryptoxanthin in protective effects of dietary nutrients on hearing loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Dose
1.5 billion
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
rd most prevalent disability globally, significantly impacting individuals and society, and imposing a substantial healthcare burden. The World Health Organization reports that over 1.5 billion people worldwide experience hearing loss, with one-third of these cases attributed to preventable factors. Recently, the influence of diet and nutrition on auditory health has garnered increasing attention.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Beta-Cryptoxanthin in the association between circulating carotenoids and risk of breast cancer: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies.
Study Type
Systematic review and meta-analysis
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Beta-Cryptoxanthin in the association between circulating carotenoids and risk of breast cancer: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies.
Dose
Beta-Cryptoxanthin (dose not specified)
Participants
188 participants
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
Most studies were performed among Western nations, which should be acknowledged for extrapolation of findings. Total circulating carotenoids, α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and lutein seem to be related to a decreased risk of breast cancer. Our findings could have practical importance for public health. This study was registered at PROSPERO as CRD42023434983.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Beta-Cryptoxanthin in dietary intake of carotenoids and risk of depressive symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Study Type
Systematic review and meta-analysis
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Beta-Cryptoxanthin in dietary intake of carotenoids and risk of depressive symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Dose
Beta-Cryptoxanthin (dose not specified)
Participants
466 participants
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
s free of publication bias and heterogeneity. Although further studies are needed to elucidate the causal relationship between carotenoids and depressive symptoms, and to further reveal the mechanism of their association, the results of our meta-analysis suggest that carotenoids are protective factors for depressive symptoms, and dietary intake may help in reducing the risk of depressive symptoms.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Beta-Cryptoxanthin in a systematic review of dietary and circulating carotenoids and liver disease.
Study Type
Systematic review
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Beta-Cryptoxanthin in a systematic review of dietary and circulating carotenoids and liver disease.
Dose
6 mg
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
: lower serum concentrations of α-carotene, β-carotene, and lycopene were associated with a higher risk of liver disease. Meanwhile, dietary intake of β-carotene could reduce the incidence of liver disease. However, for malignant diseases such as liver cancer, it did not show the significant effects of carotenoid supplementation.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Beta-Cryptoxanthin in carotenoids supplementation and inflammation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.
Study Type
Systematic review and meta-analysis
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Beta-Cryptoxanthin in carotenoids supplementation and inflammation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.
Dose
Beta-Cryptoxanthin (dose not specified)
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
-cryptoxanthin (WMD: ‒0.35 mg/L, 95% CI: ‒0.54, ‒0.15, P < 0.001) significantly decreased CRP level. Also, only lycopene (WMD: ‒1.08 pg/ml, 95%CI: ‒2.03, ‒0.12, P = 0.027) led to a significant decrease in IL-6. The overall results supported possible protective effects of carotenoids on inflammatory biomarkers.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Beta-Cryptoxanthin research
There are currently 22 peer-reviewed studies on Beta-Cryptoxanthin (Beta-cryptoxanthin), involving 8,167 total participants. Research covers Bone Health & Osteoporosis Prevention, Anti-inflammatory & Metabolic Effects, Cancer Prevention and 3 more areas. The overall evidence strength is rated as Strong.
The evidence is currently rated as "Strong Evidence". This rating is based on study design quality (randomisation, blinding, placebo controls), sample sizes, study types (10 human studies), and reported outcomes.
Beta-Cryptoxanthin has been researched for: Bone Health & Osteoporosis Prevention, Anti-inflammatory & Metabolic Effects, Cancer Prevention, Provitamin A & Metabolic Conversion, Clinical trials, Systematic reviews. Each area has its own body of evidence which you can explore in the study breakdowns above.
Yes, 10 out of 22 studies are human trials. Human trials carry more weight in our evidence scoring system.
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