Beta-Carotene

Beta-carotene is a type of carotenoid present in in carrots and other yellow/red vegetables.  It is converted within the body to form vitamin A but also exerts therapeutic effects of its own.  Beta-carotene functions as potent antioxidant.

Beta-Carotene is used for these conditons:

Anti-Aging & Life Extension:

Beta-carotene may retard some aspects of the aging process and may increase life span.

Candida (thrush):

Beta-carotene protects against (vaginal) Candida albicans proliferation.  Human studies have found that levels of beta-carotene in the vaginal cells of women afflicted with vaginal Candida albicans proliferation are six times lower than the beta-carotene levels in the exfoliated cells of healthy women.

Cervical Dysplasia:

A clinical study found that women with high beta-carotene consumption have a reduced risk of cervical dysplasia.  Supplementation with beta-carotene increased the number of normal cervical cells in 79% of women.

Cholesterol:

Beta-carotene has been found to exert antioxidant effects that inhibit the oxidation of LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol).

Detoxification:

Beta-carotene protects against many of the toxic effects of exposure to radioactivity.  In one human study, children affected by the Chernoblyl nuclear accident in Russia were given beta-carotene supplementation.  This treatment was found to reduce the severity of several measures of radiation damage in these children.

Beta-carotene also counteracts the toxic effects of exposure to X-rays.  It prevents the formation of free radicals after exposure to X-rays and prevents these X-rays-generated free radicals from damaging the immune system’s white blood cells.

Fibrocystic Breast Disease:

In a clinical study, women aged 23 – 41 suffering from breast pain associated with fibrocystic breast disease received daily beta-carotene supplements for six months.  The treatment resulted in a significant reduction in breast pain for most women, and total recovery in a few women.  Benefits only occurred in women aged 23 – 41.  Women above this age did not experience any benefits from beta-carotene.

Beta-carotene supplementation is regularly used in cows with fibrocystic breast disease.

Gastritis:

Most gastritis patients have very low beta-carotene levels in their stomach.

A clinical study found that supplemental beta-carotene helped to reverse the stomach erosion experienced by gastritis patients.  Another study found that beta-carotene helps to prevent chronic gastritis.

Heart Attack:

Beta-carotene reduces the risk of heart attacks by up to 50%.  Several population studies (epidemiological studies) have shown that people with high intake of beta-carotene have a lower risk for heart attack.

Immunity:

By influencing various types of white blood cells and immune system organs, beta-carotene improves immunity and helps to prevent bacterial and viral infections.

Beta-carotene increases the production of helper T-cells and also improves the function of existing helper T-cells.  In one human study, high doses of supplemental beta-carotene increased the number of helper T-cells by 30% after seven days.  In addition, beta-carotene enhances the ability of monocytes to present foreign substances (antigens such as bacteria and viruses) to T-cells for destruction.  A clinical trial found that beta-carotene increases natural killer cells production in elderly men.  Finally, beta-carotene improves the function of B-cells and the thymus.

Mouth Ulcers:

A clinical trial has demonstrated that beta-carotene delays and reduces the severity of the mouth ulcers that occur as a side effect of radiation therapy and chemotherapy.  It is unknown whether or not beta-carotene exerts the same effect in mouth ulcers that are unrelated to chemotherapy/radiation therapy treatment.

Ovarian Cysts:

Beta-carotene supplementation has been demonstrated to reduce the incidence of ovarian cysts in cows.  It has not yet been tested on humans for this purpose.

Photosensitivity:

Beta-carotene has been shown in several clinical studies to be highly effective for the treatment of both the polymorphous light eruption and erythropoietic protoporphyria forms of photosensitivity.

Beta-carotene counteracts sunlight-induced generation of free radicals in the skin, permitting photosensitive persons to remain in the sun for much longer than they otherwise could.

The benefits of beta-carotene in photosensitive people do not occur until it has been used on a daily basis for six to eight weeks.

Stroke:

People with high blood plasma levels of beta-carotene have been found to have a 38% reduction in their risk of ischemic stroke compared with people with low blood levels of beta-carotene.

Sunburn:

Beta-carotene slightly increases the amount of exposure to sunlight and ultra-violet radiation that can be tolerated without sunburn occurring.

A recent clinical trial found that ten weeks of supplemental beta-carotene increased the amount of sunlight exposure that could be tolerated.

Wounds:

Beta-carotene facilitates the healing of wounds.  In a study conducted on laboratory rats, five days of beta-carotene supplementation resulted in a 70% increase in the tensile strength of wounds (an indicator of faster wound healing).

Dosage:

15 - 60 mg (25,000 - 100,000 IU) per day.

Photosensitive people may require up to 180 mg per day.

References

Anti-Aging & Life Extension

Cutler, R. G.  Carotenoids and retinol:  their possible importance in determining longevity of primate species.  Proc Natl Acad Sci.  81(23):7627-7631, 1984.

Candida (thrush)

· Mikhail, M. S., et al.  Decreased beta-carotene levels in exfoliated vaginal epithelial cells in women with vaginal candidiasis.  Am J Reproductive Immunol.  32:221-225, 1994.

Cervical Dysplasia

· Kwasniewska, A., et al.  Content of beta-carotene in blood serum of human papillomavirus infected women with cervical dysplasias.  Arch Immunol Ther Exp.  44(5-6):309-13, 1996.

Cholesterol

· Lin, Y., et al.  Estimating the concentration of beta-carotene required for maximal protection of low-density lipoproteins in women.  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.  67(5):837-845, 1988.

Detoxification

Ben-Amotz, A., et al.  Effect of natural beta-carotene supplementation in children exposed to radiation from the Chernobyl accident.  Radiat Environ Biophys.  37:187-193, 1998.

Fibrocystic Breast Disease

· Santamaria, L., et al.  Beta-carotene supplementation associated with intermittent retinol administration in the treatment of premenopausal mastodynia.  Boll Chim Farm.  128(9):284-287, 1989.

Gastritis

· Spirichev, V. B., et al.  [The effect of administration of beta-carotene in an oil solution on its blood serum level and antioxidant status of patients with duodenal ulcer and erosive gastritis.]  Vopr Med Khim.  38(6):44-47, 1992.

Heart Attack

· Tavani, A., et al.  Beta-carotene intake and risk of nonfatal acute myocardial infarction in women.  Eur J Epidemiol. 13(6):631-637, 1997.

Immunity

· Bendich, A.  Beta-carotene and the immune response.  Proc Nutr Soc.  50:263-274, 1991.

Mouth Ulcers

· Mills, E. E. D.  The modifying effect of beta-carotene on radiation and chemotherapy induced oral mucositis.  Brit J Cancer.  57(4):416-417, 1988.

Ovarian Cysts

· Ozpinary, H., et al.  [Relationship between ovarian cysts and the concentration of beta-carotene, vitamin E and vitamin A in the serum of dairy cows.]  Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd.  130(5):263-273, 1988.

Photosensitivity

· Mathews-Roth, M. M., et al.  Beta-carotene therapy for erythropoietic protoporphyria and other photosensitivity diseases.  Archives of Dermatology.  113(9):1229-1232, 1977.

Stroke

Hak, A. E., et al.  Prospective study of plasma carotenoids and tocopherols in relation to risk of ischemic stroke.  Stroke.  2004.

Sunburn

Gollnick, H.  Systemic beta carotene plus topical UV-sunscreen are an optimal protection against harmful effects of natural UV-sunlight:  Results of the Berlin-Eilath study.  European Journal of Dermatology.  6:200-205, 1996.

Wound Healing

Gerber, L. E., et al.  Wound healing in rats fed small supplements of retinyl acetate, beta-carotene or retinoic acid.  Federation Proceedings.  3453:838, 1981.

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