Carotenoids are important factors in human health. They exhibit biological activities as antioxi- dants, affect cell growth regulation, and modulate gene expression and immune response. The essential role of b-carotene and other as the main dietary source of vitamin A has been known for many years. The aim of this study was to evaluate a content of physiologically significant carotenoids (b-carotene, a-carotene, lutein, lycopene) in a group of 258 dermatological patients and 29 control subjects. The results obtained by evaluating individual subgroups of patients divided according to type of their dermatose make it clear, that decreased level of carotenoids is accompanied with psoriasis, lichen, leg ulcers, skin tumours and most of infectious dermatoses, while increased levels of carotenoids were observed in patients with lymphoedema and in diabetics. In the whole study group a positive correlation between amount of serum total carotenoids and serum lutein (r = 0.825), lycopene (r = 0.776), a-carotene (r = 0.657) and b-carotene (r = 0.556) and/or between serum a-carotene and b-carotene (r = 0.849) was proved. With the aim to choice an optimal carotenoid supplement, a pilot epidemiological ministudy was realized. In 18 healthy volunteers a comparison of changes of serum carotenoids (and retinol) after 60-day intake of natural and/or synthetic supplies of carotenoids was perfomed. According to results obtained, an ideal supplement should contain a mixture of naturally-occurred carotenoids to ensure adequate blood levels of all carotenoids common in the human body.

        Key words: carotenoids - b-carotene - a-carotene - lutein - lycopene - dermatoses