Carotene

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Breast cancer risk¹

  Studies suggest carotene in the diet may be linked to a lower risk of breast cancer.

• Benefit

  Overall death risk²

  In studies of people, higher beta-carotene in diet or blood was linked to lower risk of death from any cause.

• Benefit

  Skin protection from sunlight³

  In people, eating carotene-rich food or taking carotene supplements may help protect skin from sun damage, though less than sunscreen.

• Open question

  Brain aging and memory⁴

  In older people, low carotene levels in the blood went with Alzheimer's, but we don't know if carotene prevents it.

Animal and lab studies only

• Benefit

  Artery plaque build-up⁷

  In mice, carotene helped clear fatty plaque from arteries, the authors say.

Study type not stated

• Benefit

  Eye health and cataracts⁶

  Eating more carotene and vitamin A may be linked to a lower risk of cataracts, but this is not certain.

How it’s made and used

• Diet and milk nutrients⁵

  In nursing mothers, eating carrot paste raised the carotene levels in their breast milk.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least two findings in people. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.