{"ok":true,"entry":{"slug":"beta-carotene","kind":"supplement","name":"beta-carotene","aliases":["provitamin A","betacarotene"],"brands_sg":["California Gold Nutrition","NOW Foods","Swanson Vitamins","Solgar","Natural Factors"],"class":"carotenoid","tags":["skin-hair","immune"],"use_for":"provitamin A source · HSA lists eyesight, skin, immune","use_after":"no timing rule published","use_duration":null,"take_with":"food · cooking raises its uptake from foods","pros":["the FNB has set no UL for beta-carotene","not teratogenic, unlike preformed vitamin A","HSA permits eyesight, skin and immune claims for it"],"cons":["ATBC: 20 mg/day raised lung-cancer risk in smokers","the FNB advises against it for the general population","excess turns the skin yellow-orange (carotenodermia)"],"dose_note":"the FNB set no upper limit but advises against beta-carotene supplements for the general population except as a provitamin A source; the trials that found harm used 20–30 mg a day for 4–8 years in smokers","dosage":{"ul":null,"unit":"mcg RAE","fda_dv":"no DV for beta-carotene itself · the vitamin A DV is 900 mcg RAE","rda_ai":"no separate RDA · counted as vitamin A: 2 mcg supplemental beta-carotene = 1 mcg RAE","ul_status":"none_established","population":"general adult","hsa_max_daily":null},"ul_status":"none_established","sg_class":null,"cautions":["current or former smokers, and people exposed to asbestos — ATBC and CARET found more lung cancer at 20–30 mg/day","orlistat (Alli, Xenical) — can decrease absorption of beta-carotene and other fat-soluble vitamins","the FNB advises against beta-carotene supplements for the general population"],"clashes":[{"src":["bc_orlistat"],"note":"can decrease the absorption of beta-carotene and other fat-soluble vitamins","with":"orlistat (Alli, Xenical)"}],"sources":[{"id":"bc_intro","url":"https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/","label":"NIH ODS — Vitamin A and Carotenoids (Health Professional), “Updated: March 10, 2025”; read via the web.archive.org capture 20260823085737 because ods.od.nih.gov 403s direct fetches — Introduction (provitamin A carotenoids)","quote":"Provitamin A carotenoids are plant pigments that include beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin … The body converts provitamin A carotenoids into vitamin A in the intestine via the beta-carotene monooxygenase type 1 BCMO1 enzyme","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"bc_rae","url":"https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/","label":"NIH ODS — Vitamin A and Carotenoids (Health Professional), “Updated: March 10, 2025”; read via the web.archive.org capture 20260823085737 because ods.od.nih.gov 403s direct fetches — Recommended Intakes (retinol activity equivalents)","quote":"One mcg RAE is equivalent to 1 mcg retinol, 2 mcg supplemental beta-carotene, 12 mcg dietary beta-carotene, or 24 mcg dietary alpha-carotene or beta-cryptoxanthin","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"bc_dv","url":"https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/","label":"NIH ODS — Vitamin A and Carotenoids (Health Professional), “Updated: March 10, 2025”; read via the web.archive.org capture 20260823085737 because ods.od.nih.gov 403s direct fetches — Sources of Vitamin A: Food (Daily Value note under Table 2)","quote":"The DV for vitamin A is 900 mcg RAE for adults and children age 4 years and older","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"bc_absorption","url":"https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/","label":"NIH ODS — Vitamin A and Carotenoids (Health Professional), “Updated: March 10, 2025”; read via the web.archive.org capture 20260823085737 because ods.od.nih.gov 403s direct fetches — Sources of Vitamin A: Dietary supplements (absorption)","quote":"The absorption of preformed vitamin A esters from dietary supplements is 70%–90%, and that of beta-carotene ranges from 8.7% to 65%","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"bc_cooking","url":"https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/","label":"NIH ODS — Vitamin A and Carotenoids (Health Professional), “Updated: March 10, 2025”; read via the web.archive.org capture 20260823085737 because ods.od.nih.gov 403s direct fetches — Sources of Vitamin A: Food (bioavailability from foods)","quote":"The body might absorb up to 75% to 100% of retinol and, in most cases, 10% to 30% of beta-carotene from foods … Cooking and heat treatment can increase the bioavailability of beta-carotene from foods","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"bc_teratogenic","url":"https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/","label":"NIH ODS — Vitamin A and Carotenoids (Health Professional), “Updated: March 10, 2025”; read via the web.archive.org capture 20260823085737 because ods.od.nih.gov 403s direct fetches — Health Risks from Excessive Vitamin A (beta-carotene)","quote":"Unlike preformed vitamin A, beta-carotene is not known to be teratogenic or lead to reproductive toxicity","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"bc_carotenodermia","url":"https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/","label":"NIH ODS — Vitamin A and Carotenoids (Health Professional), “Updated: March 10, 2025”; read via the web.archive.org capture 20260823085737 because ods.od.nih.gov 403s direct fetches — Health Risks from Excessive Vitamin A (carotenodermia)","quote":"The most common effect of long-term, excess beta-carotene is carotenodermia, a harmless condition in which the skin becomes yellow-orange … This condition can be reversed by discontinuing beta-carotene ingestion","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"bc_atbc","url":"https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/","label":"NIH ODS — Vitamin A and Carotenoids (Health Professional), “Updated: March 10, 2025”; read via the web.archive.org capture 20260823085737 because ods.od.nih.gov 403s direct fetches — Health Risks from Excessive Vitamin A (ATBC trial)","quote":"the ATBC trial found that supplementation with a large amount of beta-carotene (20 mg/day), with or without 50 mg/day vitamin E, for 5–8 years increased the risk of lung cancer and mortality … in male smokers","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"bc_caret","url":"https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/","label":"NIH ODS — Vitamin A and Carotenoids (Health Professional), “Updated: March 10, 2025”; read via the web.archive.org capture 20260823085737 because ods.od.nih.gov 403s direct fetches — Health Risks from Excessive Vitamin A (CARET trial)","quote":"supplementation with a large amount of beta-carotene (30 mg/day) plus 7,500 mcg RAE (25,000 IU)/day retinyl palmitate for 4–8 years in current and former smokers as well as some men occupationally exposed to asbestos increased the risk of lung cancer","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"bc_ul","url":"https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/","label":"NIH ODS — Vitamin A and Carotenoids (Health Professional), “Updated: March 10, 2025”; read via the web.archive.org capture 20260823085737 because ods.od.nih.gov 403s direct fetches — Health Risks from Excessive Vitamin A (no UL for carotenoids; FNB advice)","quote":"The FNB has not established ULs for beta-carotene and other provitamin A carotenoids … the FNB advises against the use of beta-carotene supplements for the general population, except as a provitamin A source to prevent vitamin A deficiency","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"bc_orlistat","url":"https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/","label":"NIH ODS — Vitamin A and Carotenoids (Health Professional), “Updated: March 10, 2025”; read via the web.archive.org capture 20260823085737 because ods.od.nih.gov 403s direct fetches — Interactions with Medications (orlistat)","quote":"Orlistat (Alli, Xenical), a weight-loss treatment, can decrease the absorption of vitamin A, other fat-soluble vitamins, and beta-carotene, resulting in low plasma levels in some patients","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hsa_hs_claims","url":"https://file.go.gov.sg/hsa-hs-guidelines.pdf","label":"HSA Singapore — Health Supplements Guidelines GL-CHPB-3-001 Rev. No. 020 (January 2026), List of Health Claims, rows 61 and 63","quote":"Provitamin A/vitamin A to help maintain eyesight, skin, membranes and immune function • Betacarotene, vitamin A … Beta-carotene, a provitamin A, to help maintain eyesight, skin, membranes and immune function • Betacarotene","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hsa_hs_tables","url":"https://file.go.gov.sg/hsa-hs-guidelines.pdf","label":"HSA Singapore — Health Supplements Guidelines GL-CHPB-3-001 Rev. No. 020 (January 2026), clause 4.8 and Table 4 Vitamins Limits (a retinol row only; no beta-carotene row)","quote":"HS for use by the general adult population should not contain vitamins and minerals exceeding the stipulated limits stated in Tables 4 and 5 … Table 4: Vitamins Limits … Vitamin A (retinol) 1.5mg (5000IU)","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hsa_prohibited_2025","url":"https://file.go.gov.sg/hsa-chp-prohibited-restricted-ing-guidelines.pdf","label":"HSA Singapore — Guidelines on Prohibited and Restricted Ingredients in HS and TM, GL-CHPB-1-012 Rev. 001 (October 2025), Annex A row 107; Annexes A and B checked for carotenoids","quote":"107. Vitamin A (retinol) Restricted use in HS and TM Maximum Daily Dose … the maximum recommended daily dose should not provide more than 1.5mg (5000IU) [no beta-carotene or carotenoid row in Annex A or B]","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"iherb_sg","url":"https://sg.iherb.com/c/beta-carotene","label":"iHerb Singapore — “Beta Carotene Vitamins” category page, default order, 24 results","quote":"California Gold Nutrition, Vitamin C Gummies with Vitamin A from 100% Beta-Carotene … NOW Foods, Natural Beta Carotene, 7,500 mcg (25,000 IU) … Swanson Vitamins, Beta Carotene … Solgar, Naturally Sourced Oceanic Beta-Carotene … Natural Factors, BetaCareAll®","accessed":"2026-08-27"}],"brand_certs":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-29T16:16:12.75901+08:00"},"disclaimer":"kozen-x is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. it lists what published sources have written down. absence of a record is not the same as safe."}