Carotenoids are plant pigments which protect the plant from damage from the harmful rays of the sun.
Beta-carotene (9 mg) is a main carotenoid which acts as a precursor for vitamin A. Other carotinoids, eg, alpha-carotene, lutein and cryptozanthin, are also converted to vitamin A but about half as efficiently as beta-carotene.
Bio-Carotene, as well as acting as a precursor to vitamin A, is anantioxidant quenching free radicals. This means it has a protective effect over the cells of the body.
Beta-Carotene has been used to treat a variety of disorders. Its primary use is as an antioxidant helping to maintain a healthy immune system. Beta-Carotene has also been shown to be beneficial in protecting the skin from ultra-violet (uv)-induced damage.
Taking one capsule of Bio-Carotene (equivalent to 9 mg) per day is recommended for general well-being and two capsules (equivalent to 18 mg) per day have been shown to give a therapeutic benefit.
There are many Beta-Carotene preparations on the market, however, Bio-Carotene is specially designed to withstand stomach acidity in order to ensure optimum absorption in the small intestine. Many other preparations lose effectiveness when passing through the stomach.
There are many scientific papers that show the beneficial effects of Beta-Carotene, particularly in its use as an antioxidant for the skin.
Beta-Carotene cannot be properly converted into vitamin A by diabetics, or those with hypothyroidism or severe liver malfunction. These people cannot rely on beta-carotene as a sole source of vitamin A activity.
Hyper-carotenaemia, a purely cosmetic condition characterised by the skin turning slightly orange, may occur at doses of 30 mg daily and above. This is reversible upon stopping beta-carotene supplementation.