GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Beta-carotene is a natural
source of vitamin A. The majority of
people in Western countries obtain sufficient vitamin A from
their diet, however beta-carotene may be prescribed
for people with certain conditions that
increase the need for the vitamin. For example: cystic
fibrosis, chronic illness, and intestinal malabsorption.
Beta-carotene is found in yellow fruit, dark-green, yellow
and leafy vegetables, carrots, yams, cantaloupe,
yellow squash, spinach, apricots, spirulina, wheat grass, alfalfa, and barley grass. More than 400
carotenoids have been isolated from natural
sources.
ROLE IN ANTI-AGING:
Beta-carotene is an important free-radical fighter for
various forms of cancer as it protects against ultraviolet
damage and enhances the immune system. It carries
many of the same functions as vitamin A. The liver and the intestinal wall obtain useable vitamin
A by converting beta-carotene. Research published in 2001
revealed that people who ate two-and-a-half servings of
beta-carotene-rich vegetables a day were significantly less likely to develop coronary heart
disease than those who consumed less than one serving of
beta-carotene-rich vegetables.
DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS:
Beta-carotene is not an essential nutrient,
therefore it is not possible to develop a true deficiency. However, alcohol consumption decreases
beta-carotene in the liver, and people with hypothyroidism
and diabetes may have trouble converting beta-carotene
into vitamin A. Research has also found that elderly people with type 2 diabetes have significantly lower blood levels of carotenoids. Thus, such people
may benefit from supplementary beta-carotene.
THERAPEUTIC DAILY AMOUNT:
20,000 to 50,000 I.U. No RDA has been established.
Non-toxic. Many experts suggest that people should avoid synthetic beta-carotene and only
supplement with natural betacarotene. Some research has
linked synthetic beta-carotene with an increased risk of
lung cancer among smokers, while other research has found that the natural form has antioxidant properties that the synthetic version lacks.
MAXIMUM SAFE LEVEL: Not established SIDE EFFECTS/CONTRAINDICATIONS:
The effect of beta-carotene on pregnant women has not been studied. However, no problems with
fertility or pregnancy have been reported in women taking up
to 30 mg of beta-carotene a day. Beta-carotene may
cause complications in patients with liver disease or kidney disease, and those taking cholestyramine or colestipol mineral oil, neomycin,
and vitamin E. Therefore, such patients should consult a
doctor before taking any supplements. Smokers are currently
advised to avoid taking both natural and synthetic
beta-carotene as two separate studies have shown that taking synthetic betacarotene may
increase the risk of lung cancer in smokers.
SOLUBILITY:
soluble
