Possible Interaction: Antioxidants and Beta Carotene

“After 4 wk of antioxidant supplementation with betacarotene , high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations in smokers were significantly increased.”

“The antioxidant vitamins resulted in a significant increase in vitamin E, C, and beta-carotene plasma levels.”

“The antioxidant supplementation significantly increased serum and tissue levels of beta-carotene , ascorbic acid, and alpha-tocopherol, but these changes did not correlate strongly with clinical improvement.”

“Although the combined antioxidant group had significantly higher ascorbate and beta carotene levels than the group supplemented with alpha-tocopherol alone, there were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to LDL oxidation kinetics.”

“Compared with placebo, combined antioxidant therapy resulted in a significant increase in plasma ascorbate and lipid standardized alpha-tocopherol and beta carotene levels (2.6-, 4.1-, and 16.3-fold, respectively).”

“In addition, it is now well established that antioxidants ” are not necessarily beneficial, and can be harmful under certain circumstances, such as high levels of beta-carotene in people who smoke [6,7].”

“Miscarriage of the intervention by beta-carotene made us realize the necessity for evaluation of safety before recommending use of antioxidant supplements for chemoprevention.”

“Reflecting on past and current studies, the panel of …) the potential harm of a high intake of beta-carotene on selected populations, (2) biochemical antioxidant/prooxidant mechanisms of beta-… cellular level, (3) potential benefits of other carotenoids and antioxidants , and (4) future directions for … beta-carotene and other antioxidants.”

“CONCLUSION; Antioxidant VE , VC combined with different doses of beta-C supplementation could improve the function of erythrocyte in the elderly subjects.”

“The results suggest that high levels of beta-carotene might counterbalance the effects on FEV1 decline of a genetically determined deficiency in antioxidant response.”

“ Supplemental beta-carotene may alter the antioxidant capacity of plasma and/or blood cells in vivo.”