Carotene and skin protection from sunlight in human studies
What it found
In people, eating carotenoids like beta-carotene or lycopene for at least 7 weeks reduced sunburn redness.
The protection was much weaker than using sunscreen on the skin.
What they found
Studies in people
Sunburn redness in people
Eating tomato paste providing 16 mg of lycopene daily for 10 weeks lowered sunburn redness in people. No benefit was seen after only 4 weeks.
Dose and time needed
Studies showing protection used at least 12 mg of carotenoids daily for 7 weeks or more. Trials lasting only 3 to 4 weeks found no change in light sensitivity.
Mixtures versus single nutrients
A mix of 8 mg each of beta-carotene, lutein, and lycopene daily worked as well as 24 mg of beta-carotene alone. Both reduced sunburn redness after 12 weeks in people.
Lung cancer risk at high doses
Two long trials gave 20 or 30 mg of beta-carotene daily for years to people at high cancer risk. Those groups had about 20% more lung cancer cases.
Animal and lab studies
Too much may backfire
In lab tests using skin cells, low amounts of carotenoids protected against fat damage from UV light. Higher amounts actually increased damage in those cells.
Other findings
Weaker than sunscreen
Protection from eating carotenoids is much lower than what topical sunscreens provide. It also takes 7 to 10 weeks to build up because skin renews slowly.
What the authors conclude
- They note that eating carotenoids builds a basic defense in the skin against UV light over time.
- They say this dietary approach should be used alongside sunscreen rather than instead of it.
- They advise caution regarding cosmetic claims about these nutrients until better research exists.
How it was done
Sunlight can damage skin and eyes, causing sunburn, aging, and cancer. Before modern skin products existed, humans relied entirely on natural compounds in their bodies for protection.
The authors gathered results from human trials where people ate foods rich in carotenoids or took supplements. They looked at how these diets affected skin redness after UV light exposure over periods of several weeks.
What it can’t tell you
- This paper gathers past studies, so it cannot prove that carotenoids directly cause less sunburn on their own.
- Food contains many other plant compounds that might help protect the skin.
- The cell studies showing harm at high doses cannot confirm what happens inside a living person.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany
The paper
- Title
- β-Carotene and other carotenoids in protection from sunlight
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Stahl W, Sies H (2012). β-Carotene and other carotenoids in protection from sunlight. The American journal of clinical nutrition. doi:10.3945/ajcn.112.034819Free full textPubMed 23053552DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error