B-carotene

Beta-carotene/Nutrient Depletion:

  • AlcoholAlcohol: In human research, increased alcohol consumption was associated with decreased beta-carotene increases with supplementation (92).
  • AntibioticsAntibiotics: In human research, oral neomycin sulfate 4-12g daily reduced levels of beta-carotene (85).
  • Antilipemic agentsAntilipemic agents: In human research, simvastatin, cholestyramine (Questran?), and colestipol (Colestid?) decreased blood levels of beta-carotene (86; 87; 88).
  • Dietary fatDietary fat: According to secondary sources, consumption of very-low-fat diets decreases beta-carotene absorption.
  • Fat substitutesFat substitutes: In human research, olestra lowered serum beta-carotene concentrations in healthy people by 27% (89). In human research, sucrose polyesters decreased concentrations of serum carotenoids (90).
  • IronIron: In infants, iron supplementation increased vitamin A deficiency (91). In infants, iron supplementation increased vitamin A deficiency (91).
  • LuteinLutein: In human research, beta-carotene supplementation lowered serum lutein concentrations (92). Also, in human research, lutein from a food source did not result in a decrease in beta-carotene concentrations that accompanied use of a lutein supplement (93).
  • Mineral oilMineral oil: In human research, mineral oil reduced serum beta-carotene levels (94).
  • NicotineNicotine: According to secondary sources, cigarette smoking decreases serum levels of beta-carotene.
  • Orlistat (Xenical)Orlistat (Xenical?): According to the company website, orlistat can decrease absorption of beta-carotene, and it is recommended that patients take a multivitamin supplement at least two hours apart from orlistat.
  • Plant sterolsPlant sterols: In human research, plant sterols reduced beta-carotene levels in some, but not all, studies (95; 96; 97; 98; 99; 100; 101).
  • Proton pump inhibitorsProton pump inhibitors: In human research, omeprazole decreased the absorption of a single dose of beta-carotene (102).
  • Vitamin EVitamin E: In human research, a combination of beta-carotene and vitamin E reduced the vitamin E concentration found in the normal colonic mucosa (103).