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What is Beta Carotene (Provitamin A)?

Beta Carotene, or Provitamin A, is also referred to as A-Beta-Carotene, Beta Carotene, Carotenes, Carotenoids, and Mixed Carotenoids. The name "carotene" was first coined in the early 19th Century by the scientist Wachenroder after he crystallized this compound from carrot roots. Beta carotene is one of the (nearly) 600 different carotenoids— highly pigmented, fat-soluble compounds that give red, orange, and yellow fruits and vegetables their color. It's best known as a precursor to vitamin A (retinol) in the body, and is formed in the intestine, liver, and kidneys. Alpha, beta, and gamma carotene are considered provitamins because they can be transformed to become active vitamin A.

In addition to its vitamin A activity, beta-carotene is a powerful antioxidant; thus it may help neutralize free radicals, unstable molecules that are by-products of cells "burning" oxygen for energy. Free radicals can damage basic cell structure and thus lead to chronic diseases (notably cancer and heart disease) by speeding up the aging process. While vitamin A, a fat-soluble nutrient, can be toxic if taken in excess, Beta carotene or Provitamin A is a nontoxic form of vitamin A and can be safely ingested even in large quantities. It is for this reason why most multivitamins rely on beta-carotene to supply part, if not all, of their vitamin A activity.

The richest sources of beta-carotene include dark leafy greens, carrots, spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, squash, apricots and broccoli. As a general rule, the greater the intensity of the color of the fruit or vegetable, the more beta-carotene it contains. The vitamin A activity of beta-carotene from foods is approximately 1/12 that of retinol, thus, it would take 12 micrograms (mcg) of beta carotene to provide the equivalent of 1 mcg of vitamin A. In the human body Beta Carotene is readily converted to Vitamin A and is a potent antioxidant like other vitamins such as Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Beta Carotene is considered to be relatively safe, although many physicians and researchers caution that excessive doses or supplementation of Beta Carotene may cause a slight increase in the risk of heart disease and cancer, especially in individuals who smoke cigarettes or who consume excessive amounts of alcohol.

What is Beta Carotene used for and who uses it?

Beta carotene brings with it several advantages. Aside from being converted to vitamin A for the maintenance of skin, beta-carotene is also instrumental in protecting the eyes, particularly against the formation of cataracts. Beta carotene does this by acting as an antioxidant and by absorbing free radicals before they can damage the eye. As a very powerful antioxidant Beta-carotene has been shown to effectively prevent both cancer and heart disease. Antioxidants like beta-carotene serve to help guard against cancer and to strengthen the immune system.

Beta-carotene is utilized by the body to manufacture retinol, a needed ingredient for healthy vision. As high amounts of dietary vitamin A can be toxic, beta carotene is a much better alternative to supplement this need because the body will only convert the required amounts of carotene into vitamin A, thus not poisoning the body. As an antioxidant, Beta-carotene protects the body by deactivating free radicals to prevent oxidation. Aside from supporting good vision, the nutrient and antioxidant properties of beta carotene can also boost immunity and prevent lung, stomach, and cervix cancer as well as strokes and heart disease.

Beta carotene is also used to aid in the treatment of sun sensitivity and Scleroderma. Beta carotene also assists in preventing Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Studies have shown that people who consume beta-carotene rich fruits and vegetables in their diets got less cancer and heart disease. By neutralizing free radical reactions in the body, Beta carotene have demonstrated in studies an inverse relationship between carotene intake and cancer incidence, i.e. the higher the carotene intake, the lower the incidence of cancer. In essence, there is much proof that vitamin A and carotenes significantly affect the immune function and can be used preventively as well as therapeutically to improve the status of the immune system.

How pure is your Beta Carotene?

This Beta-Carotene (Provitamin A) 1% is a pure bulk powder product assayed by the manufacturer to be 1.10% Beta-Carotene in a vegetable starch and glucose base free flowing powder. Although beta-carotene is found in many fruits and vegetables (cantaloupes, pumpkins, carrots), few people today take in the suggested amount of beta-carotene from purely dietary sources. For this reason, to achieve the optimal levels of antioxidant protection that may be afforded by beta-carotene, an individual may wish to consider using beta carotene supplements.

What are some of the common effects of Beta Carotene?

Beta Carotene is necessary for growth and repair of body tissues, and it helps maintain smooth, soft disease-free skin. Beta carotene also helps protect the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, throat, and lungs, thereby reducing susceptibility to infections. It also protects against air pollutants, counteracts night-blindness & weak eyesight, and aids in bone and teeth formation. Unlike Vitamin A from fish liver oil, Beta Carotene is non-toxic.

Solubility and daily recommended dose of Beta Carotene

Beta-Carotene (Provitamin A) 1% is a blended product that includes various products necessary to reduce the Beta Carotene concentration of this bulk powder and to increase its stability, handling characteristics and shelf-life. Because Beta Carotene in its purest form at close to 100% concentrations may be unstable and unsafe to handle or dose under normal circumstances, this 1% Beta Carotene presents a far safer and far easier handling Beta Carotene powdered product. As a fat soluble pro-vitamin A carotenoid Beta Carotene is almost completely insoluble in water and for this reason this blended powder product includes approximately 12.0% Sunflower Oil to aid in the bioavailability of Beta Carotene when ingested in this blended bulk powder.

Adult women need about 500-700 micrograms/day of vitamin A, and adult men need about 600-900 micrograms/day. This is the equivalent of about 8.4–10.8 mg of beta-carotene—an amount that can easily be met by consuming 1–2 daily servings of beta-carotene-rich foods. Given this Beta Carotene blended powder product contains 1.1% Beta Carotene the recommended dose for this 1% blended powder product would be ninety one (91) times greater or approximately 545 milligrams to 928 milligrams. Since the bulk density of this blended powder product is approximately 0.650 grams per cubic centimeter a level 1/4 teaspoon will contain approximately 800 milligrams Beta Carotene 1%. You can see the full bulk density/volumetric conversion chart for Beta Carotene here.

As always, if you have concerns or questions, consult a physician or a health care professional before taking any supplements. Before taking any kind of medicine, check with your doctor to ensure that the supplement you want to take is right for you. You may be allergic or you may have a sensitive stomach which may raise the need for special instruction as far as dosage goes.

Potential side effects of Beta Carotene

Beta carotene is relatively safe. There is some concern that high doses of beta-carotene can cause a slight increase in the risk of heart disease and cancer, especially in people who consume excessive alcohol. While beta-carotene as a standalone is effective against harmful free radicals, the by-products of its breakdown are not. Beta carotene supplementation, when done in high doses, may even increase the risk of lung cancer especially in smokers. Bottom line, don’t take beta carotene pills, particularly if you’ve ever been a smoker. Beta carotene can always be taken from vegetables and fruits, so this should not be a problem.

Other side effects include gastric upset and a yellowish skin tone, but are easily resolved by lowering the beta-carotene intake. For good measure, do not take beta-carotene if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, if you smoke, if you have been exposed to high-levels of asbestos, or if you are going to have angioplasty or any heart procedure. As always, the use of supplements, even beta-carotene, should be conducted with caution and ideally under the supervision of a dietician, nutritionist, or physician.

The information at Purebulk.com is NOT a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not use any dietary supplement as a replacement for conventional care, or as a reason to postpone seeing a doctor about a medical problem. Tell all your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.

Beta Carotene is used in the following Proprietary Formulas

Universal Animal Pak, Optimum Opti-Men, AST Multi Pro 32X, Optimum Opti-Women, NOW ADAM, NOW Beta Carotene, NOW Vitamin A, Twinlab Norwegian Cod Liver Oil, Beverly Int. Advanced Antioxidant Compound, Beverly Int. Ultra-4, Twinlab Daily One Caps, Twinlab OcuGuard Plus, Ultimate Nutrition Anti-Oxidant

References & Further Research

A Randomized Trial of Beta Carotene Supplementation and Cognitive Function in Men
This study has confirmed that long-term beta-carotene supplementation helps to improve brain function.

Beta-carotene, carotenoids, and disease prevention in humans
This article reviews and critically evaluates the body of literature that exists regarding the effects of beta- carotene and other carotenoids on chronic diseases in humans, and identifies areas for further research.

Beta Carotene for International Customers

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Buying Beta Carotene Bulk or Wholesale

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