What Causes High Carotene Levels in the Body?

November 19, 2025 •

3 min read

According to a 2018 review published in ScienceDirect, hypercarotenemia is most commonly caused by excessive intake of carotenoid-rich foods or supplements. This condition, which results in a harmless yellow-orange skin discoloration, is not just a result of diet but can also be influenced by underlying medical conditions and genetic factors.

Quick Summary

An elevation of carotene in the blood, known as hypercarotenemia, primarily results from a diet rich in orange and green produce, but can also be linked to certain medical conditions and genetic predispositions.

Key Points

Excessive Diet: Overconsumption of foods like carrots, sweet potatoes, and leafy greens is the most common cause of high carotene levels.
Medical Conditions: Underlying health issues such as hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, and liver disease can impair the conversion of carotene to vitamin A, leading to higher levels.
Genetic Factors: Rare inherited disorders that affect the enzyme responsible for converting carotene can also result in hypercarotenemia.
Supplements: High-dose beta-carotene supplements can elevate blood carotene levels, especially in heavy smokers, and are generally not recommended for the public.
Jaundice Distinction: Unlike jaundice, which yellows the sclera (whites of the eyes), high carotene levels do not affect eye color, helping to differentiate the benign condition from a potentially serious liver issue.
Infants and Children: Diet-induced hypercarotenemia is common in infants and young children who eat large amounts of pureed carrots and other carotene-rich foods.

Common Dietary Reasons for High Carotene Levels

Excessive dietary intake is the most prevalent cause of high carotene levels, a condition medically known as hypercarotenemia. The body efficiently absorbs and stores carotenoids from food, and when intake significantly exceeds the body's needs, particularly for prolonged periods, these fat-soluble pigments accumulate in the bloodstream and fat tissue.

Carotene-rich foods and supplements

Some of the most common dietary culprits are yellow, orange, and deep-green vegetables and fruits. These include:

Vegetables: Carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, spinach, kale, and winter squash.
Fruits: Mangoes, papayas, cantaloupe, and apricots.
Other sources: Excessive consumption of foods like butter, egg yolks, and milk can also contribute.

Furthermore, dietary supplements containing high doses of beta-carotene can quickly elevate carotene levels in the blood. This is especially true for individuals who take supplements beyond the recommended daily intake.

Increased bioavailability from food preparation

Cooking, pureeing, or mashing carotene-rich fruits and vegetables breaks down plant cell walls, making the carotenoids more readily available for absorption by the body. This is why carotenemia is a common finding in infants and young children, who frequently consume pureed vegetables. The presence of dietary fat also enhances carotene absorption.

Medical Conditions Affecting Carotene Levels

While a high-carotene diet is the most frequent cause, several medical conditions can impair the body's metabolism and processing of carotenoids, leading to their accumulation even with a normal dietary intake.

Impaired conversion to vitamin A

After absorption, the body typically converts beta-carotene into vitamin A (retinol). When this conversion process is hindered, carotene accumulates in the blood. This can occur due to:

Hypothyroidism: A sluggish thyroid can slow down the metabolic process responsible for converting carotene to vitamin A.
Diabetes mellitus: Individuals with diabetes may have impaired conversion and higher lipid levels, which carry carotenes in the bloodstream.
Liver disease: Since the liver is the primary site for carotene-to-vitamin A conversion, damage to the liver can disrupt this process.
Genetic defects: In rare cases, inherited disorders can lead to a deficiency in the enzyme necessary for carotene conversion.

Conditions affecting lipid and vitamin levels

Carotenoids are fat-soluble and are transported in the blood bound to lipoproteins. Conditions that alter lipid metabolism can therefore impact carotene levels.

Hyperlipidemia: Elevated lipid levels in the blood increase the number of circulating lipoproteins, which in turn leads to higher bound carotene levels.
Anorexia nervosa: This condition is associated with high carotene levels due to both altered metabolism and hypercholesterolemia.

The Difference Between Hypercarotenemia and Jaundice

High carotene levels cause the skin to appear yellow-orange, which can be mistaken for jaundice, a far more serious condition caused by high bilirubin levels. A critical differentiator is the pigmentation of the sclera (the whites of the eyes) and oral mucosa.


Feature	Hypercarotenemia (High Carotene)	Jaundice (High Bilirubin)
Skin Color	Yellow-orange discoloration, most prominent on palms, soles, and face.	Yellowing of the skin.
Sclera (Whites of Eyes)	Sclera remains white, as carotene does not accumulate here.	Sclera turns yellow due to bilirubin accumulation.
Oral Mucosa	Unaffected; appears normal.	Can appear yellow.
Cause	Excessive dietary intake or impaired metabolism of carotene.	Buildup of bilirubin due to liver or bile duct issues.
Health Implication	Generally benign and harmless, but may signal underlying medical issues.	Sign of potentially serious underlying liver or gallbladder disease.

Conclusion

High carotene levels, or hypercarotenemia, are most commonly a harmless result of a diet rich in brightly colored fruits and vegetables. However, elevated levels can also signal underlying metabolic issues, such as hypothyroidism or diabetes, which affect the body's ability to convert carotene into vitamin A. While the resulting yellow-orange skin discoloration is benign and reversible by adjusting dietary intake, it is crucial to distinguish it from jaundice. Medical evaluation may be necessary to rule out more serious causes, especially if dietary intake is not unusually high. Ultimately, understanding the various causes of high carotene levels helps prevent misdiagnosis and ensures proper health management. For more information on vitamins and minerals, consult the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements fact sheets.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, high carotene levels, known as hypercarotenemia, are generally considered a benign and harmless condition. The most noticeable symptom is a yellow-orange discoloration of the skin, which resolves once the excessive carotene intake is reduced.

To reduce high carotene levels, you should limit the intake of carotene-rich foods such as carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, spinach, kale, mangoes, and papayas. Cutting back on supplements containing beta-carotene is also recommended.

The key difference is the eye color. In hypercarotenemia, the sclera (whites of the eyes) remain white, while with jaundice, the eyes turn yellow. Jaundice indicates a serious liver issue, whereas hypercarotenemia is typically harmless.

Yes, vegetarians are more prone to developing hypercarotenemia than non-vegetarians due to a higher intake of carotene-rich fruits and vegetables. However, this is usually benign and reversible with dietary adjustments.

Beta-carotene supplements are not recommended for general use, especially in high doses and long-term. Studies have shown that high-dose supplements can increase the risk of lung cancer in smokers and those with asbestos exposure, though beta-carotene from food does not carry this risk.

After reducing the intake of carotene, serum carotene levels drop sharply within a week. However, due to its fat-soluble nature, it can take several weeks or even months for the skin's yellow-orange discoloration to completely fade.

Yes, diet-induced hypercarotenemia is common in infants, particularly those fed with commercial baby food containing pureed carrots and other carotene-rich vegetables. The condition is benign and fades once dietary changes are made.