The health benefits of
beta-carotene September 2008
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Resource
What is the role of Vitamin A in our body?
Vitamin A and its active metabolite retinoic acid (RA)(1) play
a major role in development, differentiation, and support of
various tissues and organs of numerous species. Vitamin A
cannot be synthesized de novo by animals and thus has to
be taken up from animal food sources or as provitamin A
carotenoids, the latter being converted by central cleavage of
the molecule to retinal in the intestine. [1]

What is beta-carotene?
Beta-carotene is an anti-oxidant. [2] It is also the major
carotenoid occurring in the human diet and in the human
organism. Besides its function as pro-vitamin A.

What are the benefits of beta-carotene?
Epidemiologic studies have implied that an above average
intake of the carotenoid might reduce cancer risks. Clinical
intervention trials found that beta-carotene supplementation
evoked no change in incidence of nonmelanoma skin
cancer. [3]

What are the side effects of beta-carotene?
It is endowed with health beneficial properties, but a number
of studies showed that with high intakes it may increase the
risk for lung cancer in at risk individuals (heavy smokers,
asbestos workers and alcohol users). [2,3]

A possible mechanism which can explain the dual role of
beta-carotene as both a beneficial and a harmful agent in
cancer as well as in other chronic diseases is its ability in
modulating intracellular redox status. beta-Carotene may
serve as an antioxidant or as a prooxidant, depending on its
intrinsic properties as well as on the redox potential of the
biological environment in which it acts. [4]

Warning
Do not overdose ourselves with beta-carotene and we
should use it cautiously.



This article can not be used as medical advice. Please, consult with your
medical doctor for any question or before taking any drug products and
supplements. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED zhion 2008

Reference
[1] Biesalski HK et al, Conversion of beta-carotene to retinal pigment. Vitam
Horm. 2007;75:117-30. [2] Keijer J Beta-carotene and the application of
transcriptomics in risk-benefit evaluation of natural dietary
components.Biochim Biophys Acta. 2005 May 30;1740(2):139-46 [3] Black
HS. Pro-carcinogenic activity of beta-carotene, a putative systemic
photoprotectant. Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2004 Aug;3(8):753-8. Epub 2004
Mar 19 [4] Palozza P, et al, Prooxidant effects of beta-carotene in cultured
cells. Mol Aspects Med. 2003 Dec;24(6):353-62.