Potential Health Benefits of β-Cryptoxanthin: A Narrative Review With Implications for Precision Nutrition

β-cryptoxanthin is a provitamin A xanthophyll carotenoid that is abundant in human circulation, despite being derived from a relatively limited range of dietary sources, primarily citrus fruits, which contain approximately 0.5–10.0 mg per 100 g fresh weight. Owing to the polarity and the frequent occurrence associated with β-cryptoxanthin as esterified forms in foods, β-cryptoxanthin exhibits relatively high bioaccessibility and bioavailability. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current evidence regarding the biochemical characteristics, dietary sources, determinants of absorption, and potential health effects of β-cryptoxanthin, with particular emphasis on bone health and several cancer outcomes. Among the health outcomes examined, the evidence is most consistent for a beneficial role in skeletal health. In contrast, associations with cancer are heterogeneous and appear to depend on cancer type and population characteristics; inverse associations have been reported primarily for cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract, whereas most studies show no association with overall cancer incidence or mortality. Nonetheless, further research is required to investigate whether β-cryptoxanthin can be incorporated into evidence-based precision nutrition approaches that account for interindividual variability in metabolism, lifestyle, and disease risk.