Is beta-carotene a cancer causing agent?

Is beta-carotene a cancer causing agent?

Data indicate that beta-Carotene should not be recommended as a cancer prevention agent due to lack of efficacy and potential harm among smokers or those exposed to asbestos.

Is beta-carotene harmful?

Beta-carotene doesn’t seem to be toxic in large doses. But high doses over a long time can lead to carotenemia. This causes your skin to become yellowish orange. Too much beta-carotene is a problem for some people.

Does beta-carotene reduce risk cancer?

To prevent cancer Available evidence does not support the use of beta carotene supplements for preventing cancer. In fact, high beta-carotene intake has been linked to higher risk of lung cancer in male smokers and aggressive prostate cancer.

What is a serious problem with beta-carotene supplements?

High doses of beta-carotene can turn skin yellow or orange. Taking high doses of beta-carotene supplements might also increase the chance of death from all causes, increase the risk of certain cancers, and possibly cause other serious side effects.

Is beta-carotene bad for lungs?

Use of beta-carotene has been associated with an increased risk of lung cancer in people who smoke or who have been exposed to asbestos. One study of 29,000 male smokers found an 18% increase in lung cancer in the group receiving 20 mg of beta-carotene a day for 5 to 8 years.

What are the side effects of too much beta-carotene?

Side effects from beta-carotene include:

• Skin discoloration (yellowing that eventually goes away)
• Loose stools.
• Bruising.
• Joint pain.

What happens when you eat too much carotene?

In small amounts, beta-carotene is very healthy, but when you eat too much, it can lead to problems (via Live Science). The beta-carotene can build up in the blood, and in a condition called carotenemia, it can actually cause your skin to start turning yellow and orange.

How much beta-carotene should I take daily?

Adults and teenagers: 6 to 15 milligrams (mg) of beta-carotene (the equivalent of 10,000 to 25,000 Units of vitamin A activity) per day. Children: 3 to 6 mg of beta-carotene (the equivalent of 5,000 to 10,000 Units of vitamin A activity) per day.

Can vitamin A cause lung cancer?

Another study of 18,000 cases showed 28% more lung cancers and 17% more deaths in smokers and asbestos workers who were taking beta carotene and vitamin A supplements. ‘We think our findings are relevant to public health policy,’ the scientists report in Nature.

What are the side effects of too much beta carotene?

What’s the difference between vitamin A and beta carotene?

The main difference between vitamin A and beta carotene is that vitamin A serves as an essential micronutrient whereas beta carotene serves as the precursor of vitamin A. However, vitamin A can be found in a ready-to-use form in animal food. Beta carotene is essential for the antioxidant activity of the body.

Is beta carotene good for you?

Beta carotene is a provitamin A carotenoid, or a nutrient that the body readily converts into vitamin A. Research has found that eating a carotenoid-rich diet, including beta carotene, supports eye health and prevents eye diseases.