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What is Beta Carotene?

Beta carotene is an organic compound found in many fruits and vegetables that contributes pigments that give them their red-orange color. It is not only the most common type of carotene found in nature, it is also one of the best sources of vitamin A. Palm oil, carrots, mangoes and other orange fruits and vegetables are high in beta carotene and should be included in regular diets because of the health benefits they offer to people.

  1. Significance

    • The significance of beta carotene is in the fact that it is the best source of one of the most healthful vitamins around. Vitamin A is found abundantly in beta carotene and is needed to promote healthy vision and skin. Without beta carotene it would be difficult to find other sources of vitamin A, though they do exist. The deeper the orange color of a fruit or vegetable is, the more beta carotene there is present in it, and therefore the more vitamin A there is going to be.

    Function

    • Beta carotene is found throughout the fruits and vegetables it is part of, not just in the skin or roots. While in the plant or fruit it is a pigment that gives off an orange or red-orange color. The intensity of this color is a clear indication of the amount beta carotene in the plant. When beta carotene is ingested it is broken down in the small intestine by what is called mucosa. This results in the creation of retinal, which is a soluble form of vitamin A that is then distributed through the body, but mainly into the retinas for use in repairing and maintaining healthy eyesight.

    Benefits

    • The main benefits of beta carotene come from the vitamin A that is so prevalent in it. This aids in healthy skin that is able to breathe and is free from excess grime and grit. It also repairs the rods and cones found in the retina of the eye and helps with eyesight in general. In addition, studies have found that beta carotene prevents the decline of cognitive abilities in people over time. This was done in a study of people who took in at least 50 mg of beta carotene every other day.

    Warning

    • Studies into whether or not beta carotene and vitamin A could help to prevent of decrease the risk of cancer found that beta carotene actually increases the risk of lung cancer, especially in smokers or those people who have been exposed to asbestos. If you are a smoker, do not take beta carotene supplements and try to limit the amount you eat in general. Try to find a good source of vitamin A from somewhere else.

    Considerations

    • While beta carotene is, in general, a beneficial compound, it is important to consider the fact that there are dangers in consuming too much. Besides the increase risk of cancer in smokers, too much beta carotene can also result in carotenemia or carotenodermia. This is a mostly harmless disease, though it can be a precursor to more dangerous conditions. This causes a yellowing of the skin, and has been debated as a myth in the past, though it has been proven to be a result of eating an abundance of carrots, which are very high in beta carotene.

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