Beta-carotene
Silver· human dataA provitamin-A antioxidant best from food; high-dose supplements carry a lung-cancer caution.
Beta-carotene is a plant pigment the body can convert to vitamin A as needed, which makes it a safer route to vitamin A than preformed retinol, and it acts as an antioxidant.
From food (colourful fruit and vegetables) it is beneficial and safe. High-dose supplements, however, are a cautionary tale: large trials found they increased lung-cancer risk in smokers. Get it from food rather than high-dose pills.
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Written and reviewed by Mathew Beale, MSc Biotechnology, University of Reading.
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