beta-carotene

References

beta-carotene

vitamin

Also known as: provitamin A

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Last updated

June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

Beta-carotene is an organic compound found in plants and animals that is converted into vitamin A in the body. It is a pigment that gives yellow, orange, and red colors to many fruits and vegetables, such as carrots, pumpkins, and apricots. Beta-carotene is also present in animal products like butter and egg yolks.1

When consumed in high amounts, beta-carotene is not fully converted to vitamin A and can circulate in the bloodstream, potentially causing a harmless condition called carotenemia, where the skin takes on an orange hue. This discoloration typically appears on the palms and soles and fades when dietary intake is reduced. Beta-carotene is an excellent source of vitamin A activity, with 6 micrograms of beta-carotene providing the equivalent of 1 microgram of retinol.23

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Can Eating Too Many Carrots Make Your Skin Turn Orange?
When high levels of beta-carotene are consumed, not all of the pigment is converted to vitamin A. Some of it is circulated in the blood stream. If these high levels are sustained for some time, the skin may begin to take on an orange hue, a condition known as…
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When high levels of beta-carotene are consumed, not all of the pigment is converted to vitamin A. Some of it is circulated in the blood stream. If these high levels are sustained for some time, the skin may begin to take on an orange hue, a condition known as…
Read More

chemical compound
Ultraviolet and visible (UV-visible) spectroscopy
…bright orange colour of carrots, β-carotene, contains 11 conjugated π bonds. UV-visible spectroscopy is especially informative for molecules that contain conjugated π bonds.
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…bright orange colour of carrots, β-carotene, contains 11 conjugated π bonds. UV-visible spectroscopy is especially informative for molecules that contain conjugated π bonds.
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vitamin
Sources
…tissues or species; for example, beta-carotene, which can be converted to vitamin A, is synthesized in plant tissues but not in animal tissues. On the other hand, vitamins A and D₃ (cholecalciferol) occur only in animal tissues. Both plants and animals are important natural vitamin sources for human beings. Since…
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…tissues or species; for example, beta-carotene, which can be converted to vitamin A, is synthesized in plant tissues but not in animal tissues. On the other hand, vitamins A and D₃ (cholecalciferol) occur only in animal tissues. Both plants and animals are important natural vitamin sources for human beings. Since…
Read More

vitamin A
…of these pigments, beta-carotene (provitamin A) is an excellent source of vitamin activity. The existence of vitamin A was first clearly recognized in 1913, its chemical nature was established in 1933, and it was first synthesized in 1947.
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…of these pigments, beta-carotene (provitamin A) is an excellent source of vitamin activity. The existence of vitamin A was first clearly recognized in 1913, its chemical nature was established in 1933, and it was first synthesized in 1947.
Read More