Beta Carotene

Question
My wife is an avid fan of making fresh carrot juice and when we do not have time for that we take the capsules.

I am an ex-smoker (quit 1985).  I mentioned to my doctor that I was taking beta carotene today and he told me that there may be a risk for ex-smokers to take it.  He said that a study had linked it to an increased chance for lung cancer.

Have you heard of the study?

Answer
I have heard of the study but you're only getting part of the findings.  The National Cancer Institute did the research and it was a combination of Beta-Carotene and Alpha-Tocopherol (a form of Vitamin E.)

The combination was found to cause an increase in lung cancer.  This outcome is thought to be because both supplement are fat-soluble and therefore, they cause an overabundance of antioxidation in the fat cells.  This high level of antioxidants actually draws damaging free radicals to the surrounding area.

Beta-carotene, by itself, has not shown the same negative results.

Thank you for your question, Tom.  I hope that my  answer was helpful.

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