Tag: Beta carotene supplements

According to the National Institutes of Health, beta carotene is a provitamin A carotenoid that the body converts into vitamin A. But is beta carotene worth taking as a supplement, or are its benefits best derived from food sources alone?

While the body requires beta-carotene to produce essential vitamin A, excessive intake, especially from supplements, poses significant health risks for certain groups. Understanding how much beta-carotene is safe per day is crucial for balancing its benefits as an antioxidant with potential dangers, particularly for smokers and those with a history of asbestos exposure.

While beta-carotene is a powerful antioxidant and precursor to vitamin A, excessive intake, especially from high-dose supplements, can have a range of effects on the body. In a striking 1996 study, male smokers taking high-dose beta-carotene and vitamin A supplements had an increased incidence of lung cancer and death.