Dr. K's Beta Carotene

Beta-Carotene is an important supplement because of its ability to be converted to Vitamin A in the body without any of the potentially toxic effects of fat soluble Vitamin A. It's actually superior to taking pure Vitamin A. Beta-Carotene is called the precursor to Vitamin A, but has its own natural antioxidant properties. Beta-carotene is converted to Vitamin A in approximately a 2:1 ratio.

Dr. K's Beta-Carotene is derived solely from plants, whereas Vitamin A can be manufactured from petroleum products. It is all natural and as a support formula, gives fantastic help to healing the body, skin and mucus membranes–especially in the lungs. It is an important substance that should be used in the treatment of emphysema and related problems. Only the amount needed is converted to Vitamin A in the body.

Beta-Carotene is an important carotenoid found in fruits and vegetables such as carrots. It is an antioxidant compound that gives foods such as carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, apricots and cantaloupe their orange and yellow coloring. The more color, the more Beta-Carotene it contains. The nutrient is also found in some greens, like spinach and broccoli. Beta-Carotene is not destroyed by cooking which may make it easier to be absorbed naturally.

While Vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin, can be toxic if taken in amounts greater than needed by the body, Beta-Carotene can be safely ingested-even in large quantities. It is believed that the body makes Vitamin A from Beta-Carotene as it is needed. Since adult women need about 800 micrograms of Vitamin A per day, and adult men need about 1000 micrograms per day, the equivalent dose of Beta-Carotene is about 1.6 to 2 mgs of Beta-Carotene per day.

What is Beta-Carotene?
Beta-Carotene is one of a group of substances called carotenoids which are converted to Vitamin A in the intestinal wall and the liver as the body requires. About 30 of the more than 600 carotenoids that have been identified can be converted to Vitamin A in the human body. Beta-Carotene is the best known of the carotenoids as it has high pro-Vitamin A activity and is abundant in many foods. Other carotenoids include lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene and alpha carotene.

What it does in the body
The beneficial effects of Beta-Carotene are partly due to its conversion to Vitamin A, but it also has potent activity of its own. Beta-Carotene is an antioxidant. One molecule of Beta-Carotene can wipe out up to 1000 free radicals in the body and may also prevent them from forming. This anti-oxidant ability may underlie the protective effect of Beta-Carotene against disorders such as heart disease and cancer.

Immune System
Beta-Carotene has been shown to stimulate and enhance many immune system processes. It increases the number of immune cells in the body such as B and T lymphocytes and natural killer cells. T cells play a very important role in determining immune status and are produced by the thymus gland which is particularly sensitive to free radical and oxidative damage. Beta-Carotene may also protect macrophages; cells which engulf and destroy foreign substances, facilitate communication between immune cells, and make the stimulatory action of interferon on the immune system more powerful.

Cancer
Research suggests that high levels of Beta-Carotene can protect against certain types of cancer. Many population studies have shown that cancer victims often have lower dietary and/or blood Beta-Carotene levels than healthy individuals-especially in cases of lung and stomach cancer. Some research also suggests an increased risk of breast, prostate, colo-rectal, ovarian and cervical cancers when low Beta-Carotene levels are present. Lower levels of Beta-Carotene also corresponded with higher levels of cardiovascular disease.

People who get a lot of Vitamin A from plants, in the form of carotenoids may be at less risk of developing cancer than people who obtain Vitamin A from animal food sources, which suggests a protective role for Beta-Carotene outside of its pro-Vitamin A activity. Drinking alcohol and smoking have been shown to decrease Beta-Carotene levels. Beta-Carotene may protect against damage to cell membranes and DNA thus preventing abnormal cell formation and may also slow or halt the growth of tumors by enhancing communication between cells. 

Heart Disease and Stroke

High dietary Beta-Carotene intake may be associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. As an anti-oxidant, several studies suggest that Beta-Carotene may protect against heart disease. These include the Nurses Health Study which was established in 1976. This study involves over 120,000 female US nurses and has found a lower risk of cardiovascular disease in those with higher Beta-Carotene intakes.

Another US study involving 1299 elderly people found that those in the highest Beta-Carotene intake group had almost half the risk of death from cardiovascular disease than those in the lowest intake group.

Wound Healing
As Beta-Carotene has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties it may promote wound healing.

Eyes
Free radical damage is implicated in the formation of cataracts and as an antioxidant, Beta-Carotene may exert protective effects by reducing oxidative damage. It may also act as a filter and protect against light-induced damage to the fiber portion of the lens. Beta-Carotene may also protect against macular degeneration, a disease affecting the retina to which older people are particularly susceptible.

Deficiency
Diets low in Beta-Carotene may reduce the effectiveness of the immune system and lead to an increased risk of cancer and heart disease.

Natural Versus Synthetic
Beta-Carotene supplements are available in various forms, including synthetic forms and those extracted from algae and palm oil. Some studies suggest that those extracted from palm oil are absorbed more efficiently. Natural Beta-Carotene may have greater beneficial effects than synthetic forms.

Toxic Effects
Unlike Vitamin A, Beta-Carotene is not toxic in large amounts although it could turn the skin yellow. There is also the possibility of menstrual problems with long term excessive intake.

Therapeutic Uses
Beta-Carotene supplements have been used in cancer and cardiovascular disease prevention trials including the Finnish Alpha Tocopherol Beta Carotene Cancer (ATBC) Prevention Study, the US Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial (CARET) and the US Physicians Health Study. These studies have recently reported results which have received wide publicity.

The results of these trials point to the importance of considering total diet and a balanced mixture of nutrients when studying protection against cancer risk. High blood levels of Beta-Carotene seem to predict lower risk and these high blood levels of Beta-Carotene may be accompanied by high levels of other carotenoids which may also play a vital part in cancer protection. Both the ATBC and CARET studies found that those with higher blood Beta-Carotene levels on entering the trials had a lower risk of lung cancer.

Double blind placebo controlled studies may be more useful for evaluating a specific supplement for one condition in a narrow population group and less suitable for investigating multifactorial agents in complex, mixed population studies. These studies do not invalidate hundreds of other studies showing that diets high in fruits and vegetables protect against a variety of diseases.

Other Uses
Beta-Carotene research finds that increased intake of Beta-Carotene improves memory and memory impairment. It may also slow the aging rate of the skin and other organs by protecting against free radical damage caused by the enviornment, smoking, toxins, chemicals and ultraviolet light. It has also been shown to be beneficial in cystic fibrosis and fibrocystic breast disease.

Interactions
Beta-Carotene seems to work better in the company of other anti-oxidants such as when being enhanced by Vitamin C, Vitamin E, selenium and others.

Summary
If you are, or have been, a heavy smoker or drinker, exposed to a toxic enviornment, suffer from vision problems, lung conditions or emphysema, or want to protect yourself from free radical damage and increase your anti-oxidant potential, take Dr. K's Beta-Carotene after checking with your doctor or health professional. You can benefit from healthier lungs, have more beautiful skin and hair, feel more energetic and present a more youthful appearance by taking Dr. K's Beta-Carotene.