Beta-Carotene
Other ·Exploratory record · not publication-reviewed ·Updated July 13, 2026
Orange carotenoid that converts to vitamin A as needed, safer than preformed retinol.
Exploratory record, not a reviewed medical publication.
See the editorial and medical-review policies for the publication gate.
This generated database record has not completed a claim-level review by a qualified human medical reviewer. Bibliography links and evidence labels are not approval. The page remains available for reference and is excluded from search indexing.
What the research says.
A quick, data-only summary. The full evidence, dosing, and sources are below.
Beta-Carotene is an other most often used for vitamin a precursor, antioxidant, skin health. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as moderate. A typical adult dose is 6-15 mg daily (from food or supplement), commonly taken as natural mixed carotenoids (not synthetic isolate). This profile indexes 19 sources.
The bottom line
Evidence rating moderate. Most-documented uses: vitamin a precursor, antioxidant, skin health. 19 sources indexed (2004–2024), with 0 interaction records on file.
How it works, mechanistically.
Core mechanism
Cleaved by BCO1 (beta-carotene oxygenase 1) into retinal, then converted to retinol or retinoic acid. Conversion is regulated by vitamin A status, prevents toxicity unlike preformed A.15,1
Dosing & protocol.
What it actually costs.
Real-world pricing across three quality tiers. Assumes Natural Mixed Carotenoids.
Assumes 6-15 mg/day. Vendor basis: NOW/iHerb, Vitacost, Life Extension, and Amazon marketplace; mixed carotenoid formulas drive premium pricing. Updated 2026-05-28.
The same dose, as food.
How much you'd eat to match a supplemental dose.
Food beta-carotene is preferable to high-dose isolated beta-carotene for many users, especially current or former smokers.
Full safety detail.
Sources, by evidence tier.
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Meta-analyses & systematic reviews
10- 1Association between β-carotene supplementation and risk of cancer: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsPMIDZhang Y, Yang J, Na X et al. · Nutrition reviews · 2023
Zhang Y, Yang J, Na X et al.. Association between β-carotene supplementation and risk of cancer: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutrition reviews. 2023
- 2The effects of β-carotene on osteoporosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studiesPMIDGao SS, Zhao Y · Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA · 2023
Gao SS, Zhao Y. The effects of β-carotene on osteoporosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA. 2023
- 3The Association between Malaria and β-Carotene Levels: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisPMIDKotepui KU, Mahittikorn A, Wilairatana P et al. · Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023
Kotepui KU, Mahittikorn A, Wilairatana P et al.. The Association between Malaria and β-Carotene Levels: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland). 2023
- 4The Effect of Beta-Carotene on Cognitive Function: A Systematic ReviewPMIDAbrego-Guandique DM, Bonet ML, Caroleo MC et al. · Brain sciences · 2023
Abrego-Guandique DM, Bonet ML, Caroleo MC et al.. The Effect of Beta-Carotene on Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review. Brain sciences. 2023
- 5Role of Beta-Carotene in Lung Cancer Primary Chemoprevention: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis and Meta-RegressionPMCDefined H et al. · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · 2022
Meta-analysis confirmed that high-dose synthetic beta-carotene increases lung cancer risk in smokers; smokers should avoid supplementation.
- 6Effects of β-carotene intake on the risk of fracture: a Bayesian meta-analysisPMIDCharkos TG, Liu Y, Oumer KS et al. · BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2020
Charkos TG, Liu Y, Oumer KS et al.. Effects of β-carotene intake on the risk of fracture: a Bayesian meta-analysis. BMC musculoskeletal disorders. 2020
- 7Antioxidant supplements for prevention of mortality in healthy participants and patients with various diseasesSource linkedPMIDBjelakovic G, Nikolova D, Gluud LL et al. · Cochrane Database Syst Rev · 2012
- 8Effects of beta-carotene supplements on cancer prevention: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsPMIDJeon YJ, Myung SK, Lee EH et al. · Nutrition and cancer · 2011
Jeon YJ, Myung SK, Lee EH et al.. Effects of beta-carotene supplements on cancer prevention: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutrition and cancer. 2011
- 9Beta-carotene supplementation and cancer risk: a systematic review and metaanalysis of randomized controlled trialsSource linkedPMIDDruesne-Pecollo N, Latino-Martel P, Norat T et al. · International journal of cancer · 2010
- 10Protection from sunburn with beta-Carotene--a meta-analysisPMIDKöpcke W, Krutmann J · Photochemistry and photobiology · 2008
Köpcke W, Krutmann J. Protection from sunburn with beta-Carotene--a meta-analysis. Photochemistry and photobiology. 2008
Randomized controlled trials
3- 11The Effect of Randomized Beta-Carotene Supplementation on CKD in MenPMIDChewcharat A, Chewcharat P, Rexrode KM et al. · Kidney international reports · 2024
Chewcharat A, Chewcharat P, Rexrode KM et al.. The Effect of Randomized Beta-Carotene Supplementation on CKD in Men. Kidney international reports. 2024
- 12Beta-Carotene Supplementation and Lung Cancer Incidence in the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study: The Role of Tar and NicotinePMIDAlbanes D et al. · Nicotine & Tobacco Research · 2019
ATBC Study (29,133 male smokers) reported 18% excess lung cancer incidence and 8% excess mortality with 20 mg/day beta-carotene over 5-8 years.
- 13The Beta-Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial: incidence of lung cancer and cardiovascular disease mortality during 6-year follow-up after stopping beta-carotene and retinol supplementsPMIDGoodman GE et al. · Journal of the National Cancer Institute · 2004
CARET was stopped early due to 28% increase in lung cancer incidence and 17% increase in mortality in beta-carotene/retinol group vs placebo.
Reviews & position papers
5- 14Role of ingestible carotenoids in skin protection: A review of clinical evidencePMIDDavinelli S et al. · Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine · 2021
Carotenoid supplementation boosts skin's innate UV resistance and provides photoprotection beyond UVB-induced erythema, including UVA-induced pigmentation.
- 15Beta-carotene is an important vitamin A source for humansPMIDTang G · Journal of Nutrition · 2010
BCO1 enzyme cleaves beta-carotene into retinal; conversion is regulated by vitamin A status, providing a safety mechanism against toxicity unlike preformed vitamin A.
- 16Carotenoid action on the immune responsePMIDHughes DA · Journal of Nutrition · 2004
Both provitamin A and non-provitamin A carotenoids enhance cell-mediated and humoral immune response; individual BCO1 polymorphisms determine strong vs weak responders.
- 17Antioxidant vitamins and the risk of cardiovascular disease: a review of the epidemiologic and clinical trial dataSource linkedPMIDKris-Etherton PM, Lichtenstein AH, Howard BV et al. · Ann Intern Med · 2004
- 18Beta-carotene and lung cancer in smokers: review of hypotheses and status of researchSource linkedPMIDRussell RM · J Nutr · 2004
Reference material
1- 19Beta-Carotene. 2006Source linkedPMID
Common questions.
Quick answers about Beta-Carotene, drawn from the data on this page.
What is Beta-Carotene?
Orange carotenoid that converts to vitamin A as needed, safer than preformed retinol.
What is Beta-Carotene used for?
Commonly cited benefits of Beta-Carotene include: Vitamin A precursor; Antioxidant; Skin health; Immune support. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as moderate.
What is a typical dose of Beta-Carotene?
A typical adult dose of Beta-Carotene is 6-15 mg daily (from food or supplement). The commonly recommended form is Natural mixed carotenoids (not synthetic isolate). These are general ranges, not personalized advice; confirm the right dose with a clinician.
What are the side effects of Beta-Carotene?
Reported side effects include carotenodermia (harmless orange skin), lung cancer risk in smokers (synthetic high-dose). This is educational information; check with a healthcare professional before use.
How strong is the evidence for Beta-Carotene?
NutriStack rates this as Moderate, meaning several aligned RCTs or one large RCT plus supporting reviews. Full tier criteria are at https://nutristackapp.com/methodology/evidence-tiers.
Use this with your stack
Beta-Carotene in NutriStack.
Add it to your stack, see how it interacts with everything else you take, and get a Stack Score that updates the moment it does.