Beta-carotene (β-carotene) has high pharmacological and nutritional value, and has been widely used in medicine, health care products, food additives, cosmetics and other industries. It is widely used as food additives, nutritional fortifiers, natural cosmetic colorants and pharmaceutical preparations.
Natural source of beta-carotene
Beta-carotene food sources
The richest sources of Beta-carotene are leafy green vegetables and yellow, orange fruits (such as carrots, spinach, lettuce, potatoes, sweet potatoes, broccoli, cantaloupe, and winter melon). In general, the more intensely colored fruits or vegetables are, the more β-carotene is richer.
Beta-carotene, an orange-yellow fat-soluble compound, is a precursor of vitamin A. It is abundantly present in plants, giving fruits and vegetables a full color.
Extraction of natural beta-carotene
Natural Beta-carotene is often extracted from carrots, sea buckthorn and other plants rich in β-carotene. Beta-carotene is widely used in general foods and medical health products due to its coloring, antioxidant and nutritional enhancement functions.
As a food additive and nutritional fortifier, β-carotene has been recommended by the Joint Expert Committee of Food Additives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization. It has been recognized as an A-class excellent nutritional pigment and has been approved for use in many countries and regions in the world.
Insufficient intake of beta-carotene
Insufficient intake of beta-carotene can cause night blindness, dry mucous membranes, dry eyes, and myopia. It can increase the chances of cancer, cataracts, cardiovascular, reproductive system, urinary system diseases and respiratory infections. There are also symptoms of premature aging, insomnia, weakness, dermatitis, and skin keratinization.
Hazards of excessive intake
If one-time excessive intake of carotene-rich foods, it cannot be converted into vitamin A in time. Excessive carotene will flow into the blood into the circulatory system and spread throughout the body. Carotene is highly fat-soluble. When it reaches the epidermis through circulation, it will bind to epidermal lipophilic protein. Therefore, for people with high blood lipids, carotene is more likely to be deposited in the skin, resulting in yellowing of the skin. Generally speaking, this causes carotene to accumulate in the subcutaneous fat tissue without time to be metabolized, causing the skin to temporarily turn yellow.
Intake attention
People who take the following drugs should avoid taking β-carotene supplements at the same time:
- l Cholestyramine
- l Colestipol
- l Probucol
- l Orlistat
Please note that it should not be taken at the same time with acidic substances such as vinegar.
Main applications
Natural Colorant
First of all, β-carotene has good coloring properties. The coloring range is yellow and orange-red. Strong coloring power, stable and uniform color, can coexist with K, Zn, Ca and other elements without changing color, especially suitable for compatibility with children’s food. It can also be used for the coloring of tablet sugar coatings. Its color and stability are better than lemon yellow and carmine double color sugar coating method.
As a kind of edible oil-soluble pigment, β-carotene can cover all color systems from red to yellow due to the difference in concentration, so it has attracted the attention of the food industry. It is very suitable for the development of oil-based products and protein-based products, as edible orange pigments and nutritional fortifiers, such as margarine, capsules, fish paste condensed products, vegetarian products, instant noodles, etc. The β-carotene that has been microencapsulated can be converted into water-soluble pigments and can be used in almost all foods.
Nutritional supplements
β-carotene is widely used in health foods as a raw material for nutrition fortifiers. Like other carotenoids, β-carotene is an antioxidant. Eating foods rich in β-carotene can prevent the body from contacting a damaging molecule called free radicals, which can cause damage to cells through the oxidation process.
At the same time, β-carotene is converted into vitamin A by the body when needed. If the body consumes too much vitamin A, it can cause poisoning. When the human body needs it, β-carotene will be converted into vitamin A. This feature makes β-carotene a safe source of vitamin A.
Antioxidants
Moreover, β-carotene is an excellent antioxidant. It has a synergistic effect with vitamin E and vitamin C. Their combination is called the “iron triangle” of antioxidants and has a strong antioxidant effect. Adding β-carotene to lipstick, rouge and other cosmetics can make the color naturally plump, nourish and protect the skin.
Beta-carotene is an important source of vitamin A. Beta-carotene can be converted into vitamin A after ingested in the human digestive organs. It is a safer product to supplement vitamin A (simple supplementation of chemically synthesized vitamin A will cause people to be poisoned in excess). It can maintain the health of the eyes and skin, improve night blindness, rough skin, and help the body protect the body from free radical damage.
Beta-carotene benefits
Beta-carotene for eye health
The rod cells on the retina contain rhodopsin and have the function of scotopic vision.
A proper amount of β-carotene can promote rhodopsin to reach the normal content, thereby avoiding the slow dark field adaptation caused by the lack of vitamin A, and also avoiding the damage to the eyes caused by strong light after the dark field. In addition, it can also prevent night blindness, dry eye, corneal ulcer and corneal softening.
Beta-carotene for skin
Vitamin A is necessary to maintain the integrity of all epithelial tissues, and β-carotene can be converted into vitamin A in the human body. Therefore, intake of a certain amount of β-carotene is of great significance for maintaining normal body surface, digestive tract, respiratory tract, genitourinary tract, and endocrine tract. It can avoid skin diseases such as scaly skin, keratinization, hard squamous epidermal cells, and polykeratinous erythematous dry skin.Beta carotene also has a good effect on the stability of cell membranes. It can also be used to treat inflammation “sun inflammation” caused by sun exposure.
Anti-aging
Beta carotene can increase the activity of red blood cells. Peroxidation free radicals can accelerate the aging of the human body, and people vividly call it the “garbage” of the body. Beta-carotene can neutralize the peroxidation free radicals in the body, thus delaying aging.
Resist the adverse environment
Those who often work in darkrooms, strong light, high temperature or deep water environments, as well as radiation operators, as well as people who often watch TV, should additionally supplement β-carotene to resist adverse environments.
Conclusion
Natural β-carotene can be converted into vitamin A after ingested in the human digestive organs. It is currently the safest vitamin A supplement product (simple supplementation of chemically synthesized vitamin A will cause people to be poisoned in excess). It can maintain the health of the eyes and skin, improve night blindness, rough skin, and help protect the body from free radical damage. β-carotene has been widely used in food industry, feed industry, medicine and cosmetics industry.
