{"entity":{"id":"beta-carotene-supplements","kind":"technology","name":"Beta-carotene supplements","aka":["Beta carotene","Provitamin A carotenoid"],"tldr":"Beta-carotene, the orange pigment in carrots, was tested in large trials as a way to prevent cancer. In men who smoked it increased lung cancer rather than preventing it, and the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends against taking it to prevent cancer. Eating the vegetables that contain it is a different thing and is good for you.","summary":"Memorial Sloan Kettering's About Herbs entry describes beta-carotene as one of the clearest examples of an antioxidant supplement that failed in prevention. Data from large multicentre trials suggest supplementation does not lower prostate cancer risk and, in male smokers over 40, may increase the incidence of lung cancer regardless of the tar or nicotine content of the cigarettes; antioxidant combinations including beta-carotene did not prevent gastrointestinal cancers, and beta-carotene may raise overall mortality. MSK also notes a report that beta-carotene supplements combined with continued smoking were associated with more recurrence and death during cancer treatment, and that alcohol appears to cancel any protective effect. The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends against beta-carotene or vitamin E supplements to prevent cardiovascular disease or cancer. Diets rich in fruit and vegetables, which contain carotenoids, are associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and death, which is why the advice is food rather than capsules. The only common side effect of high intake is a harmless yellowing of the skin.","status":"negative","asOf":"2026-11-04","links":[{"label":"MSK About Herbs: Beta-carotene (page last updated 24 March 2023)","url":"https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/beta-carotene"}],"tags":["complementary","supportive-care","evidence:harm"],"related":["vitamin-a-supplements","vitamin-e-supplements"],"cancers":["lung-cancer"],"sections":["supportive-care","nutrition-lifestyle","prevention"],"technologies":["integrative-oncology","dietary-supplements-treatment-interactions","smoking-cessation-after-diagnosis","mediterranean-plant-forward-diet"],"targets":[],"drugs":[],"companies":[],"institutions":[],"pathways":[],"terms":["unproven-diet-claims"],"trials":[],"people":[],"bottlenecks":["b-misinformation"],"keyPapers":[],"journals":[],"dependsOn":[],"notes":[],"principle":"An antioxidant and provitamin A in laboratory models; in animal studies and in lung cancer cells, however, it promoted growth, which is consistent with the trial results in smokers.","strengths":["Large randomised trials give a clear answer","Harmless as part of food"],"limitations":["Increased lung cancer in male smokers in large trials","No preventive benefit for prostate or gastrointestinal cancers","USPSTF recommends against it for cancer prevention"]},"route":"/technologies/beta-carotene-supplements/","neighbours":{"technology":[{"id":"dietary-supplements-treatment-interactions","kind":"technology","name":"Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms","route":"/technologies/dietary-supplements-treatment-interactions/"},{"id":"integrative-oncology","kind":"technology","name":"Evidence-based integrative oncology","route":"/technologies/integrative-oncology/"},{"id":"mediterranean-plant-forward-diet","kind":"technology","name":"Mediterranean and plant-forward dietary patterns","route":"/technologies/mediterranean-plant-forward-diet/"},{"id":"smoking-cessation-after-diagnosis","kind":"technology","name":"Smoking cessation in cancer patients","route":"/technologies/smoking-cessation-after-diagnosis/"},{"id":"vitamin-a-supplements","kind":"technology","name":"Vitamin A supplements","route":"/technologies/vitamin-a-supplements/"},{"id":"vitamin-e-supplements","kind":"technology","name":"Vitamin E supplements","route":"/technologies/vitamin-e-supplements/"}],"cancer":[{"id":"lung-cancer","kind":"cancer","name":"Lung cancer (all types)","route":"/cancers/lung-cancer/"}],"section":[{"id":"nutrition-lifestyle","kind":"section","name":"Diet, Exercise & Lifestyle","route":"/fronts/nutrition-lifestyle/"},{"id":"prevention","kind":"section","name":"Prevention & Risk","route":"/fronts/prevention/"},{"id":"supportive-care","kind":"section","name":"Supportive Care & Survivorship","route":"/fronts/supportive-care/"}],"term":[{"id":"unproven-diet-claims","kind":"term","name":"Unproven diet claims (alkaline, juice, 'anti-cancer' diets)","route":"/terms/unproven-diet-claims/"}],"bottleneck":[{"id":"b-misinformation","kind":"bottleneck","name":"Misinformation and unproven therapies","route":"/bottlenecks/b-misinformation/"}]}}