Bio-Carotene 9 mg

Bio-Carotene contains small capsules with 9 mg of pure beta-carotene (equivalent to 1,500 µg of retinol equivalents.) This dose is about 188% of the daily reference intake level for beta-carotene. Bio-Carotene is manufactured in a way where beta-carotene is mixed into an oil matrix that keeps it stable and increases its bio-availability. Studies show that betacarotene in supplement form has better bio-availability than when you get it from vegetables.

For optimal absorption in the body, Bio-Carotene should be taken with a meal.

Beta-carotene belongs to a group of yellow and red plant compounds with a coloring effect. Beta-carotene is what gives carrots, among other things, its orange color. Beta-carotene is also a precursor of retinol (vitamin A) and is into vitamin A by the body in the amounts that it needs. In some parts of the world, beta-carotene is the major source of vitamin A. Vitamin A also contributes to normal cell division and is necessary for normal functioning of the immune system.
 

Beta-carotene and vitamin A

Beta-carotene is a good vegetable source of vitamin A. Beta-carotene is lipid-soluble and is therefore absorbed more readily when ingested with some kind of fat. When beta-carotene is converted into vitamin A, it contributes to the maintenance of normal skin and mucous membranes. It is of importance to normal cell division and immune function. Moreover, it helps to maintain normal vision.

Ingestion of food and dietary supplements with large quantities (30 mg or more) of beta-carotene may provide the skin with a harmless yellowish color that some people find attractive. The color is a result of beta-carotene accumulating in the subcutaneous tissue (hypodermis). This color vanishes as soon as the intake of beta-carotene is reduced.

Beta-carotene and smokers

In some countries, dietary supplements containing beta-carotene must carry a warning for smokers, telling them not to use the product. This warning is based on research showing that large doses of beta-carotene taken by heavy smokers may increase their risk of lung cancer.

There is no evidence suggesting that beta-carotene supplements are harmful for non-smokers.

In addition, there is no reason to fear that beta-carotene can cause a vitamin A overdose. The body stops converting beta-carotene into retinol once its stores are saturated.

Good beta-carotene sources

Beta-carotene occurs naturally in several different foods with some of the best sources being:

• green vegetables
• broccoli
• carrots
• bell pepper
• squash
• apricots

The beta-carotene content in vegetables may vary quite a lot, depending on factors like the soil in which they have been cultivated, fertilizers, wind, weather conditions, and the subsequent treatment of the crop.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has evaluated the evidence behind beta-carotene and has acknowledged the following claims:

Beta-carotene (vitamin A)
 

• Contributes to the maintenance of normal skin and mucous membranes
• Contributes to the maintenance of normal vision
• Contributes to normal functioning of the immune system
• Contributes to normal  iron metabolism
• Has a role in the process of cell specialization