Carotenoids In Relation Research Articles

Yolk and Feather Carotenoids in Relation to Female Condition and Reproduction in the Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus Xanthocephalus)

ABSTRACT. Carotenoids can be important antioxidants and immunostimulants for developing embryos and adult birds, and they are often incorporated into colorful sexual displays as signals of individual quality. The allocation of carotenoids to egg yolks and feathers can be affected by a female's physical condition, which can in turn affect offspring growth and survival. We examined relationships between yolk and feather concentrations of carotenoids and various indices of female quality (i.e., body condition, heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, hematocrit, date of nest initiation, egg mass, reproductive success) in the Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus), a brightly colored passerine. Measures of physical condition of female Yellow-headed Blackbirds were correlated with the allocation of carotenoids to both eggs and feathers. Specifically, less stressed (i.e., lower heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio) females had higher concentrations of β-carotene in their eggs than females that were more stres...

Variations in leucocyte profiles and plasma biochemistry are related to different aspects of parental investment in male and female Upland geese Chloephaga picta leucoptera

The analysis of plasma biochemistry and haematology to monitor the condition of birds in the wild has been found a useful tool in ecological research. Despite biparental investment in most wild birds studied, some studies of condition indices found sex differences, and attributed these to the costs of egg formation or brooding in females or a higher contribution of males to chick rearing. We studied the natural variation of haematological and plasma biochemistry parameters (namely leucocyte, lymphocyte and heterophil counts, H/L ratio and plasma concentrations of proteins, triglycerides and carotenoids) in relation to the different measures of parental investment in males and females in the Upland goose (Chloephaga picta leucoptera), a socially monogamous species. We found no sex differences in haematological and most plasma biochemistry parameters, but a relation to different aspects of parental investment in breeding male and female Upland geese. H/L ratios were related to body condition and capture date in males while leucocyte counts, plasma protein and plasma carotenoid concentrations varied with clutch measures and hatching date in females. Higher H/L ratios of males in a low body condition and later in the year may reflect stress associated with the investment into the establishment and defence of the breeding territory. Females with higher clutch volumes had lower total leucocyte and lymphocyte numbers and higher levels of plasma protein. Earlier hatching dates were associated with lower numbers of all leucocyte types and higher values of plasma carotenoid concentrations. This indicates that differences in health state are reflected in reproductive performance in female Upland geese. We also found sexual differences in the repeatability of haematological and plasma biochemistry parameters between years and therefore suggest that their potential as a measure of individual quality differs between male and female Upland geese. Finally, numbers of leucocyte counts and plasma triglyceride concentrations of pair partners were significantly related. No study so far investigated these parameters in pair partners and we discuss possible reasons for our finding.

Determination of the Influence of Variety and Level of Maturity on the Content and Development of Carotenoids in Tomatoes

The influence of variety and the level of maturity on the content and composition of carotenoids in tomatoes were monitored in a field experiment in the year 2007. A total of 11 varieties were submitted to this experiment – Albertovské žluté, Bejbino F1, Cristina F1, Bonset F1, Dominato F1, Monika F1, Orkado F1, Start S F1, Stupické polní rané, Tornádo F1 and Rougella F1. A significant difference in the ability of tomatoes to synthesise carotenoids in relation to variety was found. At the mature phase of fruits an average content of carotenoids was determined as 665 μg/g dry mass. The varieties with high content of carotenoids were Bonset F1, Start S F1 and Cristina F1. On the contrary, the varieties with low ability in carotenoids production are Albertovské žluté, Bejbino F1 and Tornádo F1. The main carotenoids determined at the red-fruit tomatoes were lycopene, β-carotene and lutein. In the yellow-fruited variety – Albertovské žluté, only β-carotene and lutein was found.

Maternal allocation strategies and differential effects of yolk carotenoids on the phenotype and viability of yellow‐legged gull (Larus michahellis) chicks in relation to sex and laying order

Egg quality may mediate maternal allocation strategies according to progeny sex. In vertebrates, carotenoids have important physiological roles during embryonic and post-natal life, but the consequences of variation in yolk carotenoids for offspring phenotype in oviparous species are largely unknown. In yellow-legged gulls, yolk carotenoids did not vary with embryo sex in combination with egg laying date, order and mass. Yolk lutein supplementation enhanced the growth of sons from first eggs but depressed that of sons from last eggs, enhanced survival of daughters late in the season, and promoted immunity of male chicks and chicks from small eggs. Lack of variation in egg carotenoids in relation to sex and egg features, and the contrasting effects of lutein on sons and daughters, do not support the hypothesis of optimal sex-related egg carotenoid allocation. Carotenoids transferred to the eggs may rather result from a trade-off between opposing effects on sons or daughters.

Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) gene polymorphism, interactions with carotenoid levels and prostate cancer risk

The manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) gene encodes an antioxidant enzyme (SOD2) that may protect cells from oxidative damage. The MnSOD allele with Val as amino acid 16 encodes a protein that has 30-40% lower activity compared with the MnSOD Ala variant, hence possibly increasing susceptibility to oxidative stress. On the other hand, some epidemiologic studies suggest that the Ala allele is associated with a higher risk of cancer, including prostate cancer. We conducted a nested case-control study in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study with 612 incident prostate cancer cases and 612 matched controls to investigate the role of the MnSOD gene Ala16Val polymorphism and its joint association with plasma carotenoid concentrations in relation to risk of total prostate cancer and aggressive prostate cancer (advanced stage or Gleason sum > or =7). The allele frequencies in the controls were 49.8% for Ala and 50.2% for Val. No association was found between the MnSOD genotype and risk of total and aggressive prostate cancer. Furthermore, no statistically significant interaction was observed between the MnSOD genotype and any of the plasma carotenoids in relation to risk of total and aggressive prostate cancer. In analyses in which we combined data from plasma and dietary carotenoids and created a quintile score to reflect long-term carotenoid status, a 3-fold [95% confidence interval: 1.37-7.02] increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer was observed among men with the Ala/Ala genotype in the presence of low long-term lycopene status (P-value, test for interaction = 0.02) as compared with men with the Ala/Val+Val/Val genotypes with low long-term lycopene status. In this cohort of mainly white men, the MnSOD gene Ala16Val polymorphism was not associated with total or aggressive prostate cancer risk. However, men with the MnSOD Ala/Ala genotype who had low long-term lycopene status had a higher risk of aggressive prostate cancer compared with individuals with the other genotypes. These results are consistent with findings from earlier studies that reported when antioxidant status is low, the MnSOD Ala/Ala genotype may be associated with an increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer.

Egg Yolk Carotenoids in Relation to Habitat and Reproductive Investment in the Great TitParus major

Maternal allocation of antioxidants to egg yolk has been shown to affect early embryonic development and nestling survival. In environments with high levels of anthropogenic pollution, antioxidants (such as carotenoids) are important to protect the body from elevated oxidative stress. Thus, female allocation of antioxidants to yolk may be traded off against self-maintenance. Here we investigate maternal reproductive investment with respect to yolk carotenoid content and composition in relation to subsequent female condition and carotenoid status in urban and rural great tits Parus major. We found no differences between the urban and rural populations in total yolk carotenoids, egg mass, clutch size, hatching success, or female carotenoid status. Interestingly, however, rural eggs contained more zeaxanthin, a more potent antioxidant than lutein, which suggests that rural embryos have better antioxidant protection than urban embryos. Whether rural females actively transfer more zeaxanthin to the yolk or whether it passively reflects differences in dietary access or uptake needs to be further investigated. This highlights the importance of carotenoid identity and composition in future studies of carotenoid physiology, ecology, and signaling.

Multivariate meta-analysis for data consortia, individual patient meta-analysis, and pooling projects

We discuss maximum likelihood and estimating equations methods for combining results from multiple studies in pooling projects and data consortia using a meta-analysis model, when the multivariate estimates with their covariance matrices are available. The estimates to be combined are typically regression slopes, often from relative risk models in biomedical and epidemiologic applications. We generalize the existing univariate meta-analysis model and investigate the efficiency advantages of the multivariate methods, relative to the univariate ones. We generalize a popular univariate test for between-studies homogeneity to a multivariate test. The methods are applied to a pooled analysis of type of carotenoids in relation to lung cancer incidence from seven prospective studies. In these data, the expected gain in efficiency was evident, sometimes to a large extent. Finally, we study the finite sample properties of the estimators and compare the multivariate ones to their univariate counterparts.

Carotenoid pigmentation does not reflect total non‐enzymatic antioxidant activity in plasma of adult and nestling great tits, Parus major

Summary Based on carotenoids’ antioxidant and pro‐vitamin functions, carotenoid pigmentation, particularly in birds, has been hypothesized to honestly advertize condition and health. As antioxidants, carotenoids protect the body from oxidative damage caused by internal or external stressors (e.g. growth, infection and anthropogenic pollution). However, the relative importance of carotenoids in the avian antioxidant defence has been questioned, and the positive relationship between colouration and health may be a ‘red herring’. In the present study, we investigate carotenoid‐based plumage colouration and circulating carotenoids in relation to plasma non‐enzymatic total antioxidant activity (TAA) in adult and nestling great tits (Parus major). The study was conducted in urban vs. rural populations, with documented differences in oxidative stress level and plumage pigmentation. First, we found that there was no relationship between TAA and plumage pigmentation (carotenoid chroma) or plasma carotenoids. Second, urban environment significantly influenced TAA; old (2+ years) urban birds had higher activity than old rural birds, and also compared to younger (1 year) urban adults. This is likely to be due to the increased demand for plasma antioxidants as a consequence of urban environmental stress. Third, nestlings’ TAA showed no difference between urban and rural environments. However, it was highly influenced by brood, but not related to parental levels, therefore most likely due to differences in the nestling environment. We suggest that carotenoids are not significant contributors to extra‐cellular antioxidant defence in great tits, and that carotenoid pigmentation may be an overrated health indicator in this respect. Honest carotenoid signalling, when present, is thus likely to be mediated by some other constraint, such as nutrition or uptake, or other health‐modulating mechanisms.

Stability of carotenoids in freeze dried papaya (Carica papaya)

Summary Effect of water activity (aw) and storage temperature on the degradation of carotenoids in relation to keeping quality of freeze dried papaya is reported. Carotenoids were found to be most stable at 0.33 aw and both below and above this level their rate of destruction was higher. Above 0.40 aw browning limited the storage life. Freeze dried papaya has maximum stability between 0.22-0.33 aw.

Vitamin A, retinol, and carotenoids and the risk of gastric cancer: a prospective cohort study

Background:Vitamin A may influence gastric carcinogenesis through its essential role in controlling cell proliferation and differentiation. However, epidemiologic studies of vitamin A, retinol (preformed vitamin A), and provitamin A carotenoids in relation to the risk of gastric cancer have documented inconsistent results.Objective:The objective of the study was to examine the associations between intakes of vitamin A, retinol, and specific carotenoids and the risk of gastric cancer in a prospective population-based cohort study of Swedish adults.Design:The study cohort consisted of 82 002 Swedish adults aged 45–83 y who had completed a food-frequency questionnaire in 1997. The participants were followed through June 2005.Results:During a mean 7.2-y follow-up, 139 incident cases of gastric cancer were diagnosed. High intakes of vitamin A and retinol from foods only (dietary intake) and from foods and supplements combined (total intake) and of dietary α-carotene and β-carotene were associated with a lower risk of gastric cancer. The multivariate relative risks for the highest versus lowest quartiles of intake were 0.53 (95% CI: 0.32, 0.89; Pfor trend = 0.02) for total vitamin A, 0.56 (95% CI: 0.33, 0.95; Pfor trend = 0.05) for total retinol, 0.50 (95% CI: 0.30, 0.83; Pfor trend = 0.03) for α-carotene, and 0.55 (95% CI: 0.32, 0.94; Pfor trend = 0.07) for β-carotene. No significant associations were found for β-cryptoxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin, or lycopene intake.Conclusion:High intakes of vitamin A, retinol, and provitamin A carotenoids may reduce the risk of gastric cancer.

Yolk Antioxidants Vary with Male Attractiveness and Female Condition in the House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)

The manipulation of egg content is one of the few ways by which female birds can alter offspring quality before hatch. Lipid-soluble vitamins and carotenoids are potent antioxidants. Female birds deposit these antioxidants into eggs in variable amounts according to environmental and social conditions, and the quantities deposited into eggs can have effects on offspring health and immunological condition. Allocation theory posits that females will alter the distribution of resources according to mate quality, sometimes allocating resources according to the differential allocation hypothesis (DAH), investing more in offspring sired by better-quality males, and other times allocating resources according to a compensatory strategy, enhancing the quality of offspring sired by lower-quality males. It is unknown, however, whether antioxidants are deposited into eggs according to the DAH or a compensatory strategy. We examined deposition patterns of yolk antioxidants (including vitamin E and three carotenoids) in relation to laying order, mate attractiveness, female condition, and yolk androgen content in the house finch (Carpodacus mexicanus). Female house finches deposited significantly more total antioxidants into eggs sired by less attractive males. Additionally, yolk antioxidant content was significantly positively correlated with female condition, which suggests a cost associated with the deposition of antioxidants into eggs. Finally, concentrations of antioxidants in egg yolks were positively correlated with total yolk androgen content. We suggest that yolk antioxidants are deposited according to a compensatory deposition strategy, enabling females to improve the quality of young produced with less attractive males. Additionally, yolk antioxidants may act to counter some of the detrimental effects associated with high levels of yolk androgens in eggs and, thus, may exert a complementary effect to yolk androgens.

Carotenoids and cardiovascular disease: what research gaps remain?

Dietary and blood carotenoids, including alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein/zeaxanthin, and beta-cryptoxanthin, have been examined in a number of epidemiological studies in recent years for the risk of cardiovascular disease. This review assimilated the existing and recent literature on carotenoids and cardiovascular disease and considered what research gaps may remain. Numerous large cohort studies have been published in largely American men and women that have examined dietary intake or blood levels of total or individual carotenoids with the risk of various cardiovascular endpoints. Overall, early, promising results have grown increasingly inconsistent over time. More recently, studies examining lycopene and lutein/zeaxanthin have offered more promising data on a possible, but not yet established, inverse association with the risk of cardiovascular disease. Recent epidemiological data on beta-cryptoxanthin and cardiovascular disease are lacking. Primary and secondary prevention trials have extensively examined beta-carotene, but not other carotenoids, for the risk of cardiovascular disease as either the primary or secondary endpoint with largely null results. More recent studies have focused on individual carotenoids in relation to cardiovascular disease and require a more careful evaluation of potential mechanisms of effect. The promise of early epidemiological studies on carotenoids and cardiovascular disease paved the way to largely disappointing results from several large prevention trials of beta-carotene. Emerging recent evidence of potential cardioprotective effects for lycopene and other carotenoids besides beta-carotene in the diet and blood suggest that there is more to be learned in the story of carotenoids and both atherosclerotic progression and clinically manifested cardiovascular disease.

Serum levels of macular carotenoids in relation to age-related maculopathy

It has been hypothesized that the macular carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, may protect against age-related maculopathy. We evaluated the association between blood concentrations of lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) and age-related maculopathy (ARM) in a case-control analysis of the baseline examination of the Muenster Ageing and Retina Study (MARS). Of the 1060 participants aged 59-82 years at baseline, 910 (85.9%) with bilateral gradable fundus photographs and complete data for the carotenoids and potential confounders were included. The Rotterdam classification system was used for definition of ARM stages. Multivariate linear regression methods were applied to model the relationship between macular carotenoids and the presence of ARM. The participants' mean age was 70.9+5.5 years, 59.9% were female, 20.8% had a normal bilateral fundus, and 48.5% showed signs of early ARM (uni- or bilateral) and 30.7% of late ARM (in at least one eye). In study participants with L and/or Z supplementation (15.6%), the median serum levels for L (Z) were approximately 2 times (1.5 times) higher than in subjects with no supplementation. After exclusion of subjects with L and/or Z supplementation, no statistically significant bivariate relationship was observed between the serum levels of L or Z and the presence of ARM. Multivariate regression models, adjusting for age, gender, smoking, body-mass index, and HDL-cholesterol blood levels, produced adjusted mean serum levels of 0.124, 0.112, and 0.131 microg/ml for L and 0.019, 0.020, and 0.022 microg/ml for Z in subjects with normal fundus, early ARM, and late ARM, respectively. In this large study, the serum concentrations of L and Z were not related to the prevalence of ARM. However, the large proportion of study participants taking L and/or Z supplementation may have affected these results.

Role of vitamins in the risk, prevention, and treatment of breast cancer

This article presents an overview of the role of vitamins in the risk, prevention, and treatment of breast cancer, with emphasis on current evidence from English-language articles published since 1 August 2002 and indexed in MEDLINE. Findings from epidemiologic studies that have evaluated vitamin A and carotenoids in relation to breast cancer risk have been inconclusive. The available data, especially from prospective studies, do not support an association between vitamins E and C and risk of breast cancer. Recent studies suggest that folate plays an important role in the prevention of breast cancer, particularly among women consuming alcohol. Limited data also support a potential role of vitamin D in the prevention of breast cancer. High intake of folate or adequate circulating levels of folate may reduce the risk of breast cancer. Adequate folate levels may be particularly important for women who are at higher risk of breast cancer because of high alcohol consumption. The inverse association between vitamin D and risk of breast cancer needs to be evaluated in more studies.

Dietary carotenoids and risk of breast cancer

Many studies of fruit and vegetable consumption showed inverse associations with breast cancer risk, suggesting the potential importance of carotenoids (and other phytochemicals) contained in these foods. To date, however, only one prospective cohort study has examined dietary carotenoids other than beta-carotene in relation to breast cancer risk. Our aim was to examine the relations between dietary intakes of beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and lutein + zeaxanthin and breast cancer risk in a large cohort study of Canadian women. A case-cohort analysis was undertaken in a cohort of 56 837 women who were enrolled in the Canadian National Breast Screening Study and who completed a self-administered dietary questionnaire. During follow-up to the end of 1993 a total of 1589 women were diagnosed with biopsy-confirmed incident breast cancer. For comparison, a subcohort of 5681 women was randomly selected. After exclusions for various reasons, the analyses were based on 1452 cases and 5239 noncases. We found no clear association between intakes of any of the studied carotenoids and breast cancer risk in the study population as a whole or in subgroups defined by smoking status; relative body weight (assessed by body mass index); intakes of total fat, energy, alcohol, or folic acid; family history of breast cancer; or menopausal status. Our data do not support any association between dietary intakes of the studied carotenoids and breast cancer risk. However, prospective cohort studies of carotenoids in relation to breast cancer are scarce and further studies are warranted.

Dietary Carotenoid Intake and Colorectal Cancer Risk

Several studies have found inverse associations between fruit and vegetable consumption and colorectal cancer risk, suggesting the potential etiological importance of carotenoids (and other phytochemicals) contained in these foods. However, only one study (a case-control study) has examined the association between dietary carotenoids other than β-carotene and colorectal cancer risk. In the study reported here, we examined the relationships between dietary intakes of β-carotene, α-carotene, lycopene, lutein, and β-cryptoxanthin and colorectal cancer risk in a large cohort study of Canadian women. A case-cohort analysis was undertaken within the cohort of 56,837 women who were enrolled in the Canadian National Breast Screening Study and who completed a self-administered dietary questionnaire. During follow-up to the end of 1993, a total of 388 women were diagnosed with colorectal cancer. For comparative purposes, a subcohort of 5,681 women was randomly selected. After exclusions for various reasons, the analyses were based on 295 cases and 5,334 noncases. We did not find any clear association between intake of any of the studied carotenoids and colorectal cancer risk in the study population as a whole or in subgroups defined by smoking status, relative body weight (body mass index), intakes of total fat, energy, alcohol, and folic acid, or menopausal status. Our data do not support any association between dietary intakes of the studied carotenoids and colorectal cancer risk. However, given that this is the first prospective cohort study of carotenoids in relation to colorectal cancer, further studies are warranted.

Differential Changes in the Photosynthetic Pigments and Polyamine Content during Photoadaptation and Photoinhibition in the Unicellular Green Alga Scenedesmus obliquus

In the unicellular green alga Scenedesmus obliquus the level of photoinhibition and the recovery of the cells after reversal to the initial light conditions in relation to the pre-photoadaptation of the culture to low, medium and high light intensity was determined. The changes in the photosynthetic pigment content and in the intracellular polyamine concentration allowed to distinguish between photoadaptation and photoinhibition. In particular, the level of chlorophylls, xanthophylls and carotenoids decreased inversely proportional to the light intensity applied during photoadaptation, whereas their concentrations remained constant during photoinhibition. The violaxanthin/zeaxanthin and the loroxanthin/lutein cycle work only under photoinhibitory conditions, but not under photoadaptive premises. Changes in the level of these carotenoids in relation to the changes in the photosynthetic apparatus during photoadaptation are discussed. In addition, it was found that the intracellular polyamine level increased only under stress conditions, i. e. during photoinhibition, and decreased during recovery of the cells after reversal to the initial light conditions. The increase of the putrescine level during photoinhibition is inversely proportional to the light intensity used for pre-adaptation. This rise of the polyamine level in the cells photoadapted to high light conditions is an additional indication for the finding that photoadaptation and photoinhibition are different phenomena which are clearly distinguishable from each other. Finally, the changes of the chlorophyll, violaxanthin, zeaxanthin, loroxanthin, lutein and polyamine levels under photoadaptation in high light intensity (50 W m -2) in relation to the range of photoadaptation in Scenedesmus obliquus are discussed.

Differences in the response of carbon assimilation to summer stress (water deficits, high light and temperature) in four Mediterranean tree species

Daily changes in photoprotective mechanisms were studied in sun leaves of Quercus suber L., Quercus ilex L., Olea europaea L. and Eucalyptus globulus Labill. trees during the summer in Portugal. Even though stomatal closure explained most of the diurnal variation in carbon assimilation along the summer, a decline in the photochemical yield of photosystem II (F′v/F′m) also occurred, as a result of an excess of intercepted solar radiation when carbon assimilation is limited by stomatal closure due to high vapour pressure deficits and/or soil water deficits. These changes were accompanied by the conversion of violaxanthin to antheraxanthin and zeaxanthin which were correlated with thermal dissipation of excess photon energy. In spite of a common general response, differences between species were observed ‐Olea europaea, which is a slow‐growing tree, had the lowest net photosynthetic rates, the highest proportion of carotenoids in relation to chlorophyll and the highest rates of de‐epoxidation of violaxanthin. This enabled a large thermal dissipation of the excess intercepted radiation but led to rather small values of light utilisation for photochemistry (ca 20%). In contrast, in E. globulus, a fast‐growing tree, photosynthetic rates were the highest, thermal dissipation of absorbed radiation the lowest and maximal values of light utilisation for photochemistry reached ca 50%. The two Quercus species exhibited an intermediate response. A high degree of co‐ordination is apparent between stomatal behaviour, photosynthetic capacity and photoprotection mechanisms.

Structure and properties of carotenoids in relation to function.

The basic principles of structure, stereochemistry, and nomenclature of carotenoids are described and the relationships between structure and the chemical and physical properties on which all the varied biological functions and actions of carotenoids depend are discussed. The conjugated polyene chromophore determines not only the light absorption properties, and hence color, but also the photochemical properties of the molecule and consequent light-harvesting and photoprotective action. The polyene chain is also the feature mainly responsible for the chemical reactivity of carotenoids toward oxidizing agents and free radicals, and hence for any antioxidant role. In vivo, carotenoids are found in precise locations and orientations in subcellular structures, and their chemical and physical properties are strongly influenced by other molecules in their vicinity, especially proteins and membrane lipids. In turn, the carotenoids influence the properties of these subcellular structures. Structural features such as size, shape, and polarity are essential determinants of the ability of a carotenoid to fit correctly into its molecular environment to allow it to function. A role for carotenoids in modifying structure, properties, and stability of cell membranes, and thus affecting molecular processes associated with these membranes, may be an important aspect of their possible beneficial effects on human health.--Britton, G. Structure and properties of carotenoids in relation to function.

The carotenoids of Pseudevernia furfuracea along a North‐South gradient in Europe

AbstractThe whole‐lichen carotenoid composition was analysed in Pseudevernia furfuracea from various localities in Europe.Fifteen carotenoids were identified.ß‐Carotene, lutein epoxide and violaxanthin were found in the thalli of all specimens of Pseudevernia furfuracea var. furfuracea while β‐carotene, lutein epoxide, violaxanthin and astaxanthin occurred in the thalli of all specimens of Pseudevernia furfuracea var. ceratea. The carotenoids in relation to the ecology and taxonomy is discussed.