PlainPill

Beta Carotene

Based on 9 first-hand reports and 241 meta-analyses & systematic reviews in the medical literature. Ranked #1435 of 1,974 overall.

10
User score
Mostly negative
0% positive11% mixed22% negative67% unclear

Of reports that state an outcome, 0% are positive.

Clinical research
AStrong research base
241
meta-analyses
951
RCTs
18,326
papers

What Beta Carotene does, according to users

Of the people who reported each effect, the share who said it got better.

No specific effects reported yet.
betterno changeworse

What the research says

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses from PubMed, with their published conclusions.

AStrong research base

3+ meta-analyses or systematic reviews and 10+ randomized controlled trials in humans. The grade measures how much human research exists — read the conclusions below for what it found.

Circulation · 2022 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Associations of Dietary Cholesterol, Serum Cholesterol, and Egg Consumption With Overall and Cause-Specific Mortality: Systematic Review and Updated Meta-Analysis

Conclusion: In this prospective cohort study and updated meta-analysis, greater dietary cholesterol and egg consumption were associated with increased risk of overall and CVD-related mortality. Our findings support restricted consumption of dietary cholesterol as a means to improve long-term health and longevity.

PubMed 35360933 ↗
J Am Coll Cardiol · 2022 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Micronutrient Supplementation to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk

Conclusion: Supplementation of some but not all micronutrients may benefit cardiometabolic health. This study highlights the importance of micronutrient diversity and the balance of benefits and risks to promote and maintain cardiovascular health in diverse populations. (Antioxidant Supplementation in the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases; CRD42022315165).

PubMed 36480969 ↗
Nutrients · 2021 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Breast Milk Micronutrients and Infant Neurodevelopmental Outcomes: A Systematic Review

Conclusion: Further, the evidence available was limited by a high risk of bias. This highlights the need for further research in this area to understand the long-term influence of micronutrients in breast milk, the role of other breast milk micronutrients in infant neurodevelopmental outcomes, and the impact of possible lactational interventions.

PubMed 34836103 ↗
Cochrane Database Syst Rev · 2016 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Vitamin A supplementation for postpartum women

Conclusion: There was no evidence of benefit from different doses of vitamin A supplementation for postpartum women on maternal and infant mortality and morbidity, compared with other doses or placebo. Although maternal breast milk retinol concentrations improved with supplementation, this did not translate to health benefits for either women or infants. Few studies reported on maternal and infant mortality and morbidity. Future studies should include these important outcomes.

PubMed 27012320 ↗

Dosage people report

As stated by users — not a recommendation. Follow the label or your doctor.

weeklyas reported

Reported side effects

How often each side effect came up across all reports.

orange skin ×1vitamin a ×1

What users say

Verbatim quotes, shortened only — each links to the original discussion.

“betacarotene which is usually beneficial for epithelial tissue in lungs caused cancer rates to increase in smokers.”
Source discussion ↗
“Beta-Carotene isn't a great source of Vitamin A. You'll likely turn orange before you hit the RDA on a consistent basis.”
Source discussion ↗
“Beta carotene and Vitamin A(via supps, carrots, sweet potatoes, leafy greens, Liver)”
Source discussion ↗
“natural beta carotene, magnesium and also Olive oil and other monounsaturated fats.”
Source discussion ↗
“Beta carotene study, well they used artificial beta carotene...just like they used in that study”
Source discussion ↗
Top discussions (5)

More supplements

User data from public discussions; research from PubMed. Information only, not medical advice — talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. Data updated October 2, 2026. How we rate