Side Effects
The most common side effect of excessive β-carotene consumption is carotenodermia, a physically harmless condition that presents as a conspicuous orange skin tint arising from deposition of the carotenoid in the outermost layer of the epidermis. Chronic, high doses of synthetic β-carotene supplements have been associated with increased rate of lung cancer among those who smoke. Additionally, supplemental β-carotene may increase the risk of prostate cancer, intracerebral hemorrhage, and cardiovascular and total mortality in people who smoke cigarettes or have a history of high-level exposure to asbestos. β-Carotene has a high tendency to oxidize, more so than most food fats, and may thus to some extent hasten oxidation more than other food colours such as annatto.
Read more about this topic: beta-Carotene
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