Discounted Natural Vitamins: Beta Carotene & Vitamin A

Beta carotene is the coloration pigment (lipochrome) of dark green and orange plants. Most of it, is converted in the intestines and liver to Vitamin A, but some is absorbed intact by the lymphatic system and circulates in the blood. Research has shown that the amount of this pigment in the blood is directly related to the amount consumed. Beta carotene and Vitamin A are both stored and utilized by all lipid structures of the body including the epithelium of the lung. Epidemiological investigations indicate an inverse relationship between the amount of Vitamin A rich foods eaten and lung cancer. There is strong evidence of similar relationship with beta carotene. This supplement, is believed to enhance immune function and is the most efficient known quencher of singlet oxygen, a highly reactive, excited molecular species generated as a toxic by-product of normal metabolic processes. The demonstrated protective effect of beta-carotene suggests that it may affect both early and late stages of neoplastic progression. A study conducted by researchers from Chicago's Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke's Hospital and Harvard, Michigan and Northwestern Medical schools concludes "the intake of dietary provitamin A (carotene) was inversely related to the 19 year incidence of lung cancer in 1,954 middle aged men." The results of this research suggests little correlation between the incidence of lung cancer and consumption of preformed Vitamin A, but a significant inverse relationship between lung cancer and beta carotene intake.

Among 448 men who had the lowest beta carotene consumption, there were 14 cases of lung cancer.  In the group consuming the highest level of this nutritional supplement, only 2 cases of lung cancer were reported. Further analysis reveals that the apparent protective effect of beta carotene held up even for longtime smokers...but to a lesser degree. Further studies conducted in Norway, Britain, France, Iran, Israel, Japan, India and the United States point toward lower rates of lung, esophagus, larynx, bladder and sometimes stomach, gastrointestinal and breast cancer.