Betacarotene Cautions
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Betacarotene is a really safe vitamin, even in relatively high doses, but extra high supplements of this vitamin can cause the following side effects:
- Yellow-orange coloured palms of the hand
- Yellow-orange coloured soles of the feet
Because betacarotene is pretty much a non-toxic vitamin, even if the side effects listed above should occur, they will only be temporary and not usually cause any lasting effects.
etacarotene is a really safe vitamin, even in relatively high doses, but extra high supplements can cause the palms and soles to become yellow-orange in colour
Some people should not take betacarotene in a supplement form at all and should only get their recommended intake through the food in their diet:
- Current and previous heavy smokers
- Current and previous heaving drinkers of alcohol
- Current and previous asbestos workers
A fairly recent study (in 1996), the CARET (beta-Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial) tested betacarotene as well as vitamin A supplements in people who were at high risk for lung cancer — smokers, former smokers and asbestos workers, plus heavy alcohol drinkers.
The study was conducted to determine if betacarotene and vitamin A had anti-cancer protective effects on the lungs of these study subjects, because it was already known that people who had a diet high in fruits and vegetables rich in betacarotene had a lowered risk for lung (and other) cancers.
Unfortunately, the study was stopped before it was completed because it was discovered that the individuals taking the betacarotene supplements (they took up to 30mg per day) had a higher incidence of lung cancer and higher mortality rate than the individuals who were taking a placebo (no betacarotene supplement).
The authors of the study advised that people who were in the following groups should not take betacarotene supplements - current heavy smokers, former heavy smokers (who had quit smoking), current and former heavy alcohol drinkers, current and former asbestos workers.
References
- Omenn GS, Goodman GE, Thornquist MD, et al. Risk factors for lung cancer and for intervention effects in CARET, the Beta-Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1996;88(21):1550-1559