Methods for the reduction or prevention of oxidative stress in a human subject comprising administering to the human subject an effective amount of a composition comprising xanthophyll carotenoids, or analogs or derivatives of astaxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycoxanthin, lycophyll, or lycopene are described. Also described are compositions comprising xanthophyll carotenoids, or analogs or derivatives of astaxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycoxanthin, lycophyll, or lycopene, the compositions being effective for the reduction or prevention of oxidative stress in a human subject.