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What is beta carotene?
By admin | August 10, 2007
In the 19th century the first one to use the term carotene was German scientist Wachenroder who crystallized this compound from carrot root. Carotenoids, the group of highly pigmented, fat soluble compounds that mainly are part of fruits, vegetables, oils and grains, are also the group where beta-carotene belongs.
Beta-carotene plays a very important role in health. It is full of antioxidant. Vitamin A deficiency causes abnormal bone development, disorders of the reproductive system, xerophthalmia ( a drying condition of the cornea of the eye ) and sometimes death.
Products that contain beta-carotene are mostly produced synthetically from palm oil, algae or fungi. Beta-carotene is converted to retinol, which is essential for vision and is subsequently converted to retinoic acid, which is used for processes involving growth and cell differentiation.
Beta-carotene supplements are available in both oil matrix gelatin capsules and water-miscible forms. Some clinical trials have used water-miscible beta-carotene (10%) beadlets. The water miscible form seems to produce a significantly higher response in plasma beta-carotene (approximately 47% to 50%) than oil matrix gelatin capsules. Oral dosage is available in capsules (U.S. and Canada), tablets ( U.S. and Canada), and chewable tablets (Canada ).
It is very important to say that eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables decreases any conditions that might be caused by beta-carotene deficiency. Eating at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables per day gives your body 6-8 miligrams of beta-carotene.
Some synonyms, such as alpha-carotene, carotene, carotenoids, palm oil, provitamin A, red palm oil, sunflower oil, retinol, gamma-carotene are also used.
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