A method for inhibiting and / or ameliorating the occurrence of diseases associated with 
reactive oxygen species, 
reactive nitrogen species, radicals and / or non-radicals in a subject whereby a subject is administered a 
carotenoid analog or derivative, either alone or in combination with another 
carotenoid analog or derivative, or co-
antioxidant formulation. The analog or derivative is administered such that the subject's risk of experiencing diseases associated with 
reactive oxygen species, 
reactive nitrogen species, radicals and / or non-radicals may be thereby reduced. The analog or analog combination may be administered to a subject for the inhibition and / or amelioration of any 
disease that involves production of 
reactive oxygen species, 
reactive nitrogen species, radicals and / or non-radicals. In some embodiments, the invention may include a pharmaceutical composition including an analog or derivative of a 
carotenoid. The carotenoid analog or derivative may be synthetic. The carotenoid analog may include a 
conjugated polyene with between 7 to 14 double bonds. The 
conjugated polyene may include an acyclic 
alkene including at least one 
substituent and / or a cyclic ring including at least one 
substituent. In some embodiments, a carotenoid analog or derivative may include at least one 
substituent. The substituent may enhance the 
solubility of the carotenoid analog or derivative such that the carotenoid analog or derivative at least partially dissolves in water. In some embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition may include a biologically inactive carrier. The pharmaceutical composition may be adapted to be administered to a human subject.