Beta-carotene

A pro vitamin, precursor chemical or building block that the human body converts to vitamin A, beta-carotene is one of many pigments called carotenoids that give the deep coloring found in orange or green vegetables and fruits.

Beta-carotene is the only carotenoid that can be converted to significant amounts of vitamin A, and only about one-sixth is converted in humans. Dietary fat is required for the adequate absorption of carotene. The deeper the orange coloring of a carrot, the higher the concentration of beta-carotene.

In an Arizona study, 26 of 49 patients with oral leukoplakia, a premalignant lesion, were given 60 milligrams daily of beta-carotene for six months, resulting in a significant reduction in the size of their lesions. However, exce View the rest of this article