Page 163 - Encyclopedia of Chemical Compounds 3 Vols

BETA CAROTENE

Words to Know

ANTIOXIDANT A chemical that attacks free radicals are very active chemically
radicals, chemical structures that attack and tend to attack and destroy other
cells and may be responsible for the compounds. They are responsible for
development of cancer. damage in cells that may lead to a number
of health problems, including cancer and
CHROMATOGRAPHY A process by which a
ageing.
mixture of substances passes through a
column consisting of some material that SYNTHESIS A chemical reaction in which
causes the individual components in the some desired chemical product is made
mixture to separate from each other. from simple beginning chemicals, or
reactants.
FREE RADICAL An atom or group of atoms
with a single unpaired electron. Free

people take vitamin supplements to ensure that they have
enough beta-carotene (as well as other vitamins) in their
daily diet. Although some warnings have been issued about
taking too much vitamin A, there is no clinical evidence
that an overdose of the vitamin does any long-term harm to
aperson.

Beta-carotene is used as a food additive to increase the
color intensity of a product. It is used primarily with yellow
and orange foods, such as butter and margarine, although it
issometimesaddedtoice creamand fruitjuicesaswell.
Beta-carotene is used in only very small amounts as a food
additive. In these amounts, it poses no health hazard to
humans or other animals. The compound has also been
used in experiments to test its effectiveness against certain
diseases, such as lung cancer. In such cases, it has been
found to be more harmful than beneficial, increasing the
risk of cancer and death among people participating in the
studies.

FOR FURT H ER INFOR M ATIO N
‘‘Beta carotene.’’ University of Bristol School of Chemistry.
http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/motm/carotene/beta carotene_home.
html (accessed on September 22, 2005).

112 CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS