Possible Interaction: Vitamin E and Beta Carotene

“All oral beta-carotene doses (15-60 mg/d), however, resulted in similar decreases in steady-state plasma levels of alpha-tocopherol and in only small differences in beta-carotene plasma levels.”

“Animal studies, including our own, have documented that dietary beta-carotene can reduce plasma alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) levels, but few published studies have examined the clinical or pharmacokinetic ramifications of long-term, high-dose beta-carotene regimens on other fat-soluble vitamins such as alpha-tocopherol.”

“CONCLUSION Long-term oral administration of be a-carotene de creased steady-state plasma concentrations of alp ha-tocopherol. ”

“In the human study, the decrease in plasma alpha-tocopherol levels was progressive and significant between 6 and 9 months of beta-carotene dosing in all dosage groups.”

“The reduction was statistically significant when the supplementation combined alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene for adverse effects to the larynx (OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.21 to 0.71) and overall at any site (OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.20 to 0.74).”

“The mean (+/- standard …) concentrations of plasma beta-carotene , alpha-tocopherol, vitamin C, selenium and zinc among participants who … randomly assigned to receive a daily supplementation with beta-carotene, vitamin E , vitamin C, selenium and zinc for 2 years were significantly higher than those who were assigned to receive placebo.”

“We found that participants who received selenium, beta-carotene , and vitamin E had significantly lower cancer mortality rates than those who did not.”

“ Vitamin E was highly correlated with beta-carotene.”

“The results indicate that BC supplementation does result in a significant accumulation of BC in the colonic mucosa but that the alpha-tocopherol concentration in both serum and colonic tissue may be compromised by an increased intake of BC.”

“However, some studies have suggested that oral supplements of beta carotene may cause a decrease in serum levels of alpha tocopherol (vitamin E).”

“A short-term study recently suggested that two of these nutrients, beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol , may have an adverse interaction, with beta-carotene supplementation leading to markedly decreased serum concentrations of alpha-tocopherol.”

“Both beta-carotene and vitamin E supplementation increase overall mortality.”

“Furthermore, quercetin, naringenin, and alpha-tocopherol partly suppressed the pro-inflammatory effects of 20 microM beta-carotene on PMA-stimulated HL-60 cells, and the suppressing effects of quercetin and naringenin were better than or similar to those of alpha-tocopherol.”