Uses
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. The effectiveness ratings for BETA-CAROTENE are as follows:
Effective for…
- An inherited disorder marked by sensitivity to light (erythropoietic protoporphyria or EPP).” Taking beta-carotene by mouth can reduce sensitivity to the sun in people with erythropoietic protoporphyria.
Possibly effective for…
- An eye disease that leads to vision loss in older adults (age-related macular degeneration or AMD). Taking beta-carotene by mouth along with vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc seems to help prevent vision loss and worsening of AMD in people with more severe AMD. Taking this combination might reduce the progression of AMD to a more advanced state in people at low risk, but results are conflicting. Taking beta-carotene plus antioxidants but without zinc does not seem to improve advanced AMD. There is conflicting evidence about whether taking it as part of the diet helps reduce the risk of developing AMD.
- Breast cancer. Eating more beta-carotene in the diet is linked to a lower risk of breast cancer in high-risk, pre-menopausal women. This includes women with a family history of breast cancer and those who consume a lot of alcohol. Also, in women that already have breast cancer, eating more in the diet is linked to an increased chance of survival.
- Complications after childbirth. Taking beta-carotene by mouth before, during, and after pregnancy might decrease the risk of diarrhea and fever after childbirth. It also seems to reduce the risk of pregnancy-related death in underfed women.
- Sunburn. Taking beta-carotene by mouth may decrease sunburn in people sensitive to the sun. However, taking it is unlikely to have much effect on sunburn risk in most people. Also, it does not appear to reduce the risk of skin cancer or other skin disorders associated with sun exposure.
Possibly ineffective for…
- Ballooning of a blood vessel wall (aneurysm). Research suggests that taking beta-carotene by mouth for about 5.8 years does not prevent the development of abdominal aortic aneurysm in male smokers.
- Alzheimer disease. Eating a diet high in beta-carotene does not seem to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Cataracts. Taking beta-carotene alone or in combination with vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc, for up to 8 years is unlikely to reduce the incidence or progression of cataracts.
- Cystic fibrosis. Taking beta-carotene by mouth for up to 14 months does not improve lung function in people with cystic fibrosis.
- Diabetes. Some early research suggests that eating a diet containing higher amounts of beta-carotene is linked with a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes. However, taking supplements does not reduce the risk of developing diabetes or diabetes-related complications.
- Non-cancerous moles (dysplastic nevi). Research shows that taking it by mouth for 3 years does not reduce the development of new moles.
- Liver cancer. Taking beta-carotene alone or with vitamin E for 5-8 years does not prevent liver cancer in men who smoke.
- Liver disease. Taking it alone or with vitamin E for 5-8 years does not prevent death due to liver disease in men who smoke.
- Death from any cause. Some research suggests that taking supplements containing beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, and zinc for about 7 years might lower the risk of death in men. However, it doesn’t seem to benefit women. Also, other research shows that taking larger doses of beta-carotene for up to 12 years may increase the risk of death in both men and women.
- Stroke. Taking beta-carotene by mouth for about 6 years does not reduce the risk of stroke in male smokers. Also, there is some evidence that taking supplements increases the risk of bleeding in the brain in people who drink alcohol.
Likely ineffective for…
- Cancer. Most research shows that taking beta-carotene does not prevent or decrease death from cancer of the uterus, cervix, thyroid, bladder, skin, brain, or blood (leukemia). In fact, it might increase the risk of death.
- Heart disease. The American Heart Association states that the evidence does not justify using antioxidants such as beta-carotene to reduce the risk of heart disease. Research also shows that beta-carotene in combination with vitamin C and E does not decrease heart disease risk.
- Colon cancer, rectal cancer. Most research shows that taking it by mouth, alone or with vitamins C and E, selenium, and calcium carbonate, does not decrease the risk of colon tumor growth. It also doesn’t seem to reduce the risk of colon tumor recurrence in people who have had colon tumors removed, although it might reduce the risk of colon tumor recurrence in people who never drink or smoke. However, in people that smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol, taking supplements increases the risk of new tumors. It is unclear if dietary beta-carotene reduces the risk of colon cancer.
- Lung cancer. Taking beta-carotene seems to increase the risk of lung cancer in people who smoke, people who used to smoke, people exposed to asbestos, and those who use alcohol in addition to smoking. However, beta-carotene from food does not seem to have this adverse effect. Taking supplements containing beta-carotene, vitamin E, and selenium for about 5 years does not reduce the risk of death in people previously diagnosed with lung cancer.
- Prostate cancer. Taking supplements does not prevent prostate cancer in most men. In fact, there is some concern that beta-carotene supplements might actually increase the risk of prostate cancer in some men. There is evidence that men who take a multivitamin daily along with a separate beta-carotene supplement have an increased risk of developing advanced prostate cancer. Also, men who smoke and take supplements have an increased risk of developing prostate cancer.
Insufficient evidence to rate effectiveness for…
- Aging skin. Early research shows that taking 30 mg of beta-carotene daily may reduce signs of skin aging. But taking 90 mg daily doesn’t have this same effect.
- Lou Gehrig’s disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS). Taking supplements doesn’t seem to reduce the risk of ALS. But eating a diet high in beta-carotene seems to reduce the risk of ALS by a small amount.
- Asthma. Eating a diet high in beta-carotene does not seem to reduce the risk of asthma.
- Side effects from chemotherapy. Eating a diet high in beta-carotene might reduce toxic effects in children who are receiving chemotherapy for a certain type of cancer (lymphoblastic leukemia).
- A lung disease that makes it harder to breathe (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD). Eating more beta-carotene in the diet seems to help prevent bronchitis and breathing issues in smokers with COPD. But supplements do not have this effect.
- Memory and thinking skills (cognitive function). Some research suggests that taking beta-carotene for one year does not improve thinking skills and memory in older men. However, taking beta-carotene for up to 18 years might help.
- Cancer of the esophagus. Taking beta-carotene supplements doesn’t seem to reduce the risk of esophageal cancer.
- Asthma caused by exercise. Taking beta-carotene supplements seems to prevent asthma attacks that are caused by exercise.
- Stomach cancer. Some research suggests that taking beta-carotene does not decrease the risk of stomach cancer. But some early research suggests that taking beta-carotene, vitamin E, and selenium might reduce the risk of stomach cancer in underfed Chinese people who are at high risk. Also, taking it might stop cancer-like lesions in the stomach from turning into cancer.
- A digestive tract infection that can lead to ulcers (Helicobacter pylori or H. pylori). Some early research shows that taking beta-carotene by mouth along with prescription drugs does not help treat H. pylori infection better than prescription drugs alone.
- HIV/AIDS. Some early research suggests that taking beta-carotene by mouth for 4 weeks helps improve immune system function in people with HIV. However, conflicting evidence exists.
- Infant development. Some research shows that higher levels of beta-carotene in the mother’s breastmilk is linked to better development in the nursing infant.
- Build-up of fat in the liver in people who drink little or no alcohol (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD). Some research shows that eating more beta-carotene in the diet is linked to a lower chance of having NAFLD.
- White patches inside the mouth are usually caused by smoking (oral leukoplakia). It is unclear if taking beta-carotene by mouth decreases symptoms of oral leukoplakia. Some research suggests that it might when taken up to 12 months. However, at least in people that do not smoke, it does not seem to help reduce symptoms or prevent mouth cancer.
- Swelling (inflammation) and sores inside the mouth (oral mucositis). Taking beta-carotene by mouth doesn’t seem to prevent oral mucositis during radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
- Osteoarthritis. Eating more beta-carotene in the diet may prevent osteoarthritis from getting worse. But it does not seem to lower the risk of getting osteoarthritis.
- Ovarian cancer. Eating a diet rich in carotenoids, including beta-carotene, may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer in women after menopause.
- Pancreatic cancer. Taking beta-carotene supplements doesn’t seem to reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer.
- Parkinson disease. Eating more beta-carotene in the diet doesn’t seem to affect the chances of developing Parkinson’s disease.
- Physical performance. Eating more beta-carotene in the diet seems to improve physical performance and muscle strength in older people.
- Skin rash caused by sun exposure (polymorphous light eruption or PMLE). Some research suggests that taking beta-carotene supplements can improve sensitivity to sun exposure in people with polymorphous light eruptions. But not all research agrees.
- Hearing loss.
- Alcoholism.
- Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
- Depression.
- Epilepsy.
- Headaches.
- Heartburn.
- Hypertension.
- Infertility.
- Psoriasis.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Schizophrenia.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate beta-carotene for these uses.
Side Effects Of Beta-Carotene
When taken by mouth: Beta-carotene is LIKELY SAFE in adults and children when taken in appropriate amounts for certain medical conditions. However, beta-carotene supplements are not recommended for general use. Beta-carotene supplements are POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth in high doses, especially when taken long-term. High doses of beta-carotene can turn skin yellow or orange. There is growing concern that taking high doses of antioxidant supplements such as beta-carotene might do more harm than good. Some research shows that taking high doses of beta-carotene supplements might increase the chance of death from all causes, increase the risk of certain cancers, and possibly cause other serious side effects. In addition, there is also concern that taking large amounts of a multivitamin plus a separate supplement increases the chance of developing advanced prostate cancer in men.
Warnings & Precautions
- Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Beta-carotene is LIKELY SAFE when taken by mouth in appropriate amounts. However, large doses of beta-carotene supplements are not recommended for general use during pregnancy and breast-feeding.
- Children: Beta-carotene is LIKELY SAFE when used orally and appropriately.
- Angioplasty, a heart procedure: There is some concern that when antioxidant vitamins, including beta-carotene, are used together they might have harmful effects after angioplasty. They can interfere with healing. Don’t use beta-carotene and other antioxidant vitamins before or after angioplasty without the recommendation of your healthcare provider.
- History of asbestos exposure: In people who have been exposed to asbestos, beta-carotene supplements might increase the risk of cancer. Don’t take supplements if you have been exposed to asbestos.
- Smoking. In people who smoke, beta-carotene supplements might increase the risk of colon, lung, and prostate cancer. Don’t take supplements if you smoke.
Dosage Of Beta-Carotene
The following doses have been studied in scientific research: ADULTS BY MOUTH:
- For an inherited disorder marked by sensitivity to light (erythropoietic protoporphyria or EPP): 180 mg of beta-carotene per day has been used. If this dose is not effective, the dose can be increased to 300 mg per day.
- For preventing sunburn: A specific product (Betatene by Betatene Ltd or Cognis Australia Pty. Ltd) containing 24-25 mg of beta-carotene along with other carotenoids has been used for 12 weeks.
- For an eye disease that leads to vision loss in older adults (age-related macular degeneration or AMD): 15 mg of beta-carotene plus 500 mg of vitamin C, and 400 IU of vitamin E, with or without 80 mg of zinc oxide, has been used daily.
- For preventing complications after childbirth: 42 mg of beta-carotene weekly
CHILDREN
BY MOUTH:
For an inherited disorder marked by sensitivity to light (erythropoietic protoporphyria or EPP): Dosage is based on age. For age 1 to 4, the daily dose is 60-90 mg; age 5 to 8 years, 90-120 mg; age 9 to 12 years, 120-150 mg; age 13 to 16 years, 150-180 mg; and age 16 and older, 180 mg. If people still remain too sensitive to the sun using these doses, beta-carotene can be increased by 30-60 mg per day for children under 16 years old, and up to a total of 300 mg per day for people older than age 16. The recommended daily intake of beta-carotene has not been set because there hasn’t been enough research. Beta-carotene supplements are available in two forms. One is water-based, and the other is oil-based. Studies show that the water-based version seems to be absorbed better.
Other
Consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Source
All information has been provided courtesy of MedLinePlus from the National Library of Medicine and from the FDA.
