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Betacarotene Interactions

Betacarotene has detrimental interactions with the following medications and supplements:

• Statins - Atorvastatin (Lipitor), Fluvastatin (Lescol), Lovastatin (Mevacor), Pravastatin (Pravachol).
  Medications that lower cholesterol (Statins) when taken with betacarotene, selenium, vitamin C, vitamin E may decrease the effectiveness of the statins. Research has not yet identified if betacarotene alone can cause the statins to become ineffective or whether it is the combination of the antioxidant supplements which decreases the effectiveness of the statins.
• Orlistat
  The weight loss medication Orlistat can interfere with the absorption of betacarotene, reducing it by as much as 30%. Orlistat also interferes with the absorpion of other fat-soluble vitamins.
• Verteporfin (Visudyne)
  Verteporfin, a medication used to treat macular degeneration or fungal eye infections should not be taken together with betacarotene, as the betacarotene may decrease the effectiveness and blood levels of verteporfin in the body.

The weight loss medication Orlistat can interfere with the absorption of betacarotene, reducing it by as much as 30%

• Niacin (Vitamin B3)
  Betacarotene, together with selenium, vitamin C, vitamin E may decrease the blood levels of niacin (vitamin B3). Niacin helps to increase HDL ("good") cholesterol and lowered levels of niacin may possibly reduce HDL ("good") cholesterol
  
• Alcohol
  Excessive alcohol intake can reduce betacarotene levels in the body to such an extent that this can contribute to further liver damage.

References

1. Ahmed S, Leo MA, Lieber CS. Interactions between alcohol and beta-carotene in patients with alcoholic liver disease. Am J Clin Nutr. 1994 Sep;60(3):430-6
2. Cheung MC, Zhao XQ, Chait A, Albers JJ, Brown BG. Antioxidant supplements block the response of HDL to simvastatin-niacin therapy in patients with coronary artery disease and low HDL. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2001 Aug;21(8):1320-6
3. Leo MA, Lieber CS. Alcohol, vitamin A, and beta-carotene: adverse interactions, including hepatotoxicity and carcinogenicity. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999 Jun;69(6):1071-85
4. Zhi J, Melia AT, Koss-Twardy SG, Arora S, Patel IH. The effect of orlistat, an inhibitor of dietary fat absorption, on the pharmacokinetics of beta-carotene in healthy volunteers. J Clin Pharmacol. 1996 Feb;36(2):152-9
5. Niki E, Noguchi N, Tsuchihashi H, Gotoh N. Interaction among vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene. Am J Clin Nutr. 1995 Dec;62(6 Suppl):1322S-1326S

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