The insidious vitamin. What are the dangers of beta-carotene and retinol?

Vitamin A is very difficult. For example, in its action this vitamin is in many ways closer to hormones.

Article on the topic Stock up on vitamins for future use. In what cases can this be dangerous?

There are two forms of vitamin A.

1. Beta-carotene, considered its precursor or, scientifically speaking, a provitamin. Our body cannot produce it, and we must get it from plant foods, since it is practically absent in animals. Beta-carotene itself is extremely useful and necessary for our body; it is a powerful antioxidant. Only part of this substance is converted into vitamin A; it is believed that out of 12 beta-carotene molecules, only one goes into the production of the vitamin. The remaining 11 molecules “work” for our benefit in a different way. An overdose of beta-carotene is practically safe, its main manifestation is yellowing of the skin, more like a tan than jaundice.

2. Retinol - or vitamin A itself. We can synthesize it from beta-carotene. And we can also obtain it in its pure form from animal products, poultry and fish, as well as from multivitamin preparations. This is a very important substance necessary for cell differentiation (the transformation of stem cells into specific cells of the liver, kidneys, muscles and other organs), for the growth and development of the body, for vision and immunity. Carrying out these functions, vitamin A often behaves like a hormone: it regulates the activity of genes and thereby has a strong influence on the formation of our body. And it is in this form, in the form of retinol, that vitamin A can be very toxic: it is extremely easy to get in excess, because there are many foods that contain its daily value in one serving. And in some there are even 9 daily norms, such as 100 grams of beef liver.

What is beta carotene?

Have you ever wondered why carrots are orange? Beta-carotene (β-carotene) gives it its orange color. It is a yellow-orange plant pigment that provides the color to most brightly colored (red, orange, yellow and even dark green) vegetables and fruits. They are considered the main source of beta-carotene. However, the diet of modern man is organized in such a way that vegetables and fruits alone cannot meet the need for beta-carotene. This is where specialized preparations come to the rescue, which also contain beta carotene, but in adjusted dosages and a form optimal for absorption.

Why does the body of adults and children need beta-carotene, what is its benefit?

Beta-carotene plays two important roles in the human body:

participates in the body's antioxidant defense and is a precursor of vitamin A.

As an antioxidant

Lymphocytes are actively involved in the work of the immune system - cells that constantly form free radicals as a result of their vital activity. In addition, free radicals also arise in ordinary cells under the influence of various environmental factors and many viruses. Free radicals are always present in cells and are involved in some biological processes, but their excess is harmful because they are very active substances and can destroy cell membranes, proteins and nucleic acids.

By the way: The name carotene itself comes from the word “ carota”

"—the names of carrots in Latin.

To protect against damage that free radicals can cause, the body synthesizes endogenous antioxidants. These substances bind excess free radicals and thus maintain the optimal ratio of oxidants and antioxidants in the body, necessary for its normal functioning. Oxidative stress (excessive free radicals) requires more antioxidants. The body can obtain them from food or as part of vitamin-mineral complexes.

One of the powerful antioxidants is beta-carotene. Thanks to its antioxidant properties, beta-carotene helps strengthen the immune system, reduces the risk of infectious diseases, mitigates the effects of harmful environmental factors such as electromagnetic radiation, chemical and radioactive pollution, and also increases the body's adaptive capabilities and resistance to stress.

Vitamin A is not synthesized in the human body, but comes from foods containing vitamin A or carotenoids, one of which is beta-carotene. Beta-carotene, under the influence of enzymes in our body, can be converted into vitamin A, which is why beta-carotene is called provitamin A. From one molecule of beta-carotene, two molecules of vitamin A are formed. Vitamin A performs many functions in the body:

Roles and functions of vitamin A in the body:

• Essential for cell growth and differentiation.
• Activates the immune system and is also necessary for its functioning. Increases the body's resistance to infections.
• Preserves and restores good vision, necessary for the normal functioning of the retina.
• Maintains healthy skin, hair, mucous membranes (digestive system, respiratory tract).
• Necessary for the proper development of embryos during pregnancy.
• Necessary for the normal functioning of the gonads.
• Essential for teeth and bones.

Preparations containing carotenoids

Vitamin preparations containing carotenoids can be bought at the pharmacy, where the variety of medicines is replete with variety; there or in the cosmetics department you can find creams with these elements. Online stores can also please you not only with a wide range, but also with rarer and more unique products.

Basically, medications based on beta-carotene are needed by athletes whose metabolism in the body is much faster, or by people working in difficult physical conditions.

Commercial forms of vitamins containing beta-carotene can be purchased in tablets, syrup, capsules, oil solution or drops without a doctor's prescription. Preparations containing provitamin:

• "Arnebia" beta-carotene plus calcium;
• "Beta-carotene";
• "Solgar";
• Bluebonnet Nutrition with Vitamins C, E and Selenium;
• "Vitrum" provitamin and folic acid;
• "Antioxypax" is a vitamin-medicinal preparation with ascorbic acid, zinc oxide and beta-carotene;
• Bilberry Vita Complex dietary supplement with riboflavin, blueberry extract and carotenoid;
• Doppelhertz Active;
• "Trimegavital" provitamin and sea buckthorn.

This is just a small list of the most famous names of vitamins or medications containing organic matter and other useful components. There are also similar medications with differences in composition or manufacturer. The most similar in therapeutic properties and chemical composition are: “Retinol acetate”, “Cyclocar”, “Carotinyl”, “Retinol palmitate”. Thanks to the widest range, you can choose the most suitable products, taking into account the cost.

Instructions for use

Use beta-carotene according to the instructions as prescribed by a doctor or independently at home. The drug is taken orally (inside) or externally as compresses. The duration of the treatment course is determined by the attending physician.

For preventive purposes, the oil solution should be used after meals or during meals. Adults and children over 12 years old can take 1 tsp of provitamin oil. per day. As an external medicine, beta-carotene is soaked in paper or napkins and applied to the affected areas 1-2 times a day.

Tablets and capsules are most often prescribed individually by specialists and the intake is adjusted during the treatment process. Basically, take 1 tablet of provitamin 1 time per day after meals.

Contraindications

There is no doubt that beta-carotene is extremely important for the body, but like any medicine, the provitamin has contraindications, and if they are not taken into account, it can cause some harm to the body.

Any instruction states that before taking vitamins and medications, you must consult a doctor to identify certain predispositions or allergic reactions. Thus, this component should not be used independently by persons with hypersensitivity to these components.

Taking the plant substance is contraindicated in case of alcohol intoxication, disorders of all kidney functions, hypercarotenemia, progressive liver diseases, viral hepatitis, hypothyroidism.

Smokers should take this drug only after a full medical examination, as studies conducted over decades have shown that taking the provitamin increases the incidence of cancer. It has also recently become known that, indeed, smokers are more at risk of developing lung cancer when consuming higher doses of beta-carotene.

This effect of carotenoids applies exclusively to people who smoke and those who come into contact with harmful substances.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would like to remind you that beta-carotene is a unique substance that, in small doses, can slow down the development of tumors. Provitamin coming from products is absolutely safe for those who are not allergic to individual components, and can be consumed in unlimited quantities.

Just 5 mg per day of this substance can prevent many possible diseases, make the immune system stronger and more stable, and also completely improve working processes in the body. For women, beta-carotene is an excellent substance that has a positive effect on appearance and well-being.

Vitamin A deficiency and its causes:

What does a vitamin A deficiency mean?

• Deterioration of vision in low light (the so-called “night blindness”) is the most well-known symptom of hypovitaminosis A.
• Dryness of the mucous membrane of the eyes, a feeling of “sand” in the eyes, redness of the eyelids, watery eyes in the cold, accumulation of crusts and mucus in the corners of the eyes.
• Dry skin, early appearance of wrinkles, increased pain and temperature sensitivity of the skin.
• Dry and brittle hair, dandruff, slowly growing nails.
• Frequent infections, especially of the respiratory tract, acute respiratory infections.
• Increased sensitivity of tooth enamel.

What are the main causes of vitamin A deficiency?

• Insufficient vitamin A content in food, especially in the winter-spring period.
• Unbalanced diet: prolonged deficiency of complete proteins, limited fat intake (they are necessary for the absorption of vitamin A from food), insufficient intake of vitamin E.
• Metabolic disorders with intensive use of vitamin A or with increased release from the liver during acute and chronic infections and diseases accompanied by fever.
• Diseases of the liver, intestines, pancreas, biliary tract, kidneys.

Why is taking beta-carotene for prevention better than taking vitamin A?

Vitamin A is essential for the body, but in large doses it can be dangerous. An overdose of vitamin A may cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, gastrointestinal disorders, nausea, vomiting, itching, joint pain, etc. Considering the risk of developing the above conditions, it is more advisable to take its predecessor, beta-carotene, as a source of vitamin A. The principal advantage of beta-carotene is its non-toxicity even in large quantities. Beta-carotene is able to accumulate in subcutaneous fat (depot), turning into vitamin A only in those quantities that the body needs at each stage of its functioning.

Retinoids[edit | edit code]

Retinoids include:

Retinol (Vitamin A1).

Dehydroretinol (vitamin A2).

Retinaldehyde (Retinal).

Retinoic acid (rutinol, tretinoin).

Retinol dosage.

Retinol in overdose is toxic, even fatal. A single dose of 7.5 mg/kg or 500 mg of retinol is considered dangerous. The daily dose of retinol is considered to be 0.7 mg for women, 0.9 mg for men, and 1.3 mg for breastfeeding women.

What determines the need for beta-carotene and vitamin A?

The need for vitamin A and, accordingly, beta-carotene increases in people living in environmentally unfavorable areas and also exposed to x-rays.

The need for vitamin A can vary significantly depending on climatic conditions. A cold climate does not affect the metabolism of vitamin A, but as the ambient temperature rises and the time spent in the sun increases (for example, during a summer holiday in the south), the need for vitamin A increases sharply.

During pregnancy and breastfeeding, and during physical activity, the need for vitamin A also increases. However, excess vitamin A can negatively affect the development of the unborn child, so it is preferable to take beta-carotene during pregnancy.

When taking medications that interfere with fat absorption (for example, mineral laxatives, some cholesterol-lowering drugs), the need for vitamin A increases.

Reviews about provitamin A

There are quite a lot of opinions on the Internet from people who took beta-carotene.
Their reviews are 100% positive. No side effects were recorded. Patients claim that beta-carotene helped them strengthen their hair and nails, as well as eliminate dandruff. Their reviews also indicate that with the use of the above drug, the condition of the skin improves, and such unpleasant phenomena as redness of the eyelids and dry mucous membranes of the eyes are eliminated.

In addition, a separate group of responses consists of the opinions of people who, as a result of taking the drug, felt a decrease in fatigue and a surge of new strength. Their mood improved significantly and even in some cases the depression disappeared.

How is beta-carotene absorbed in the body?

Beta-carotene is absorbed in the intestines. The degree of absorption of beta-carotene from plant foods depends on the completeness of the rupture of cell membranes, so carotene is better absorbed from carrot puree than from whole carrots. During heat treatment, up to 30% of beta-carotene is lost.

Beta-carotene (like vitamin A and other carotenoids) is fat-soluble, meaning it requires fat to be absorbed. That is why it is recommended to eat carrots with sour cream and other fatty foods. Also, an extremely important factor in the absorption of beta-carotene is the normal functioning of the intestines and the presence of bile in the intestines.

However, modern technologies make it possible to convert fat-soluble carotene into a finely dispersed form, which improves its bioavailability and allows it to be consumed even without fatty foods.

At the same time as taking beta-carotene, it is recommended to take antioxidants, such as vitamins E and C. These substances are synergists, that is, they enhance each other’s effects. In addition, vitamin E is necessary for the absorption of beta-carotene.

Are there possible side effects when taking beta-carotene?

There are no contraindications to the use of beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is not toxic, not mutagenic, not carcinogenic and not harmful to developing embryos.

If the daily norm of beta-carotene is regularly and significantly exceeded, phenomena such as carotenemia or hypercarotinemia - an excess of carotene in the body - may occur. Carotenemia is not considered a dangerous condition because excess beta-carotene is harmless, although it does lead to yellowing of the skin (carotenoderma). If hypercarotenemia occurs, beta-carotene intake should be discontinued or dosage reduced. If the skin does not return to its normal shade, you should consult a doctor, since changes in skin pigmentation may not be associated with beta-carotene intake and may be a symptom of various diseases.

individual intolerance may occur

. Before starting treatment, consult a specialist.

References

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3. Middha, P., Weinstein, S., Männistö, S. et al. β-Carotene Supplementation and Lung Cancer Incidence in the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study: The Role of Tar and Nicotine. Nicotine Tob Res, 2021. - Vol. 21(8). — P. 1045-1050.
4. Grune, T., Lietz, G., Palou, A. et al. Beta-carotene is an important vitamin A source for humans. J Nutr., 201. - Vol. 140(12). — P. 2268S-2285S.
5. Zhao, L., Zhang, Q., Zheng, J. et al. Dietary, circulating beta-carotene and risk of all-cause mortality: a meta-analysis from prospective studies. SciRep., 2021. - Vol. 6.