Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

108 Alternative and Complementary Approaches
greater effect in combination rather than in isolation,
which is how they occur in nature, despite
their individual actions and benefits.
People who take excessive amounts of
carotenoid supplements may find the palms of their
hands and soles of their feet take on a yellowish
orange discoloration. This is a temporary effect that
wears off when stopping the supplement allows the
amounts of carotenoids present in the body to
decrease. Taking zeaxanthin with foods that contain
some fat increases the amount of zeaxanthin
that enters the bloodstream from the digestive
tract. Taking penicillin-based ANTIBIOTIC MEDICATIONS
may decrease zeaxanthin absorption.
See also BILBERRY; LYCOPENE; PHYTOESTROGENS;
RETINOPATHY.