Deurali-Janta Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd.

Presented by:Phr. Asad KamranTechnical Consultant, MPDDeurali-Janta Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd.

BETA-CAROTENEIncreases Cancer Risk?

INTRODUCTION

Beta-Carotene

• A member of the carotenes.• Most common form of carotene in plants.• In nature, β-carotene is a precursor to vitamin A.• it is very lipophilic.• Most common side effect of excessive β-carotene

consumption is carotenodermia.• Chronic, high doses of synthetic β-carotene supplements have

been associated with a higher rate of lung cancer in smokers.• β-carotene may increase the risk of prostate cancer,

intracerebral hemorrhage, and cardiovascular and total mortality in people who smoke cigarettes or have a history of high-level exposure to asbestos.

Beta-carotene

Beta-Carotene

• If the body has enough vitamin A, the conversion of β-carotene decreases. Therefore, β-carotene is a very safe source of vitamin A and high intakes will not lead to hypervitaminosis A.

• Excess β-carotene is predominantly stored in the fat tissues of the body.

• β-Carotene can interact with medication used for lowering cholesterol. Taking them together can lower the effectiveness of these medications and is considered only a moderate interaction.

• β-Carotene should not be taken with Orlistat, a weight loss medication, as Orlistat can reduce the consumption of β-carotene by as much as 30%.

Beta-carotene

Beta-Carotene

• Consuming alcohol with β-carotene can decrease its ability to convert to retinol and could possibly result in hepatotoxicity.

Beta-carotene

Beta-Carotene & Lung Cancer in

Smokers

Beta-carotene

… Lung Cancer

• Chronic high doses of β-carotene supplementation increases the probability of lung cancer in cigarette smokers.

Cancer 113 (1): 150–7. July 2008• The effect is specific to supplementation dose as no lung

damage has been detected in those who are exposed to cigarette smoke and who ingest a physiologic dose of β-carotene (6 mg), in contrast to high pharmacologic dose (30 mg).

• Therefore, the oncology from β-carotene is based on both cigarette smoke and high daily doses of β-carotene.

Pure Appl. Chem. 74(8): 1461–1467. 2002

Beta-carotene

… Lung Cancer

• β-carotene does not appear to decrease the risk of cancer overall.

• High levels of β-carotene may increase the risk of lung cancer in current and former smokers.

Ecancermedicalscience 7: 365. (2013)• Because beta-carotene is unstable in cigarette smoke exposed

lungs where it forms oxidized metabolites that can induce carcinogen-bioactivating enzymes.

Beta-carotene

Beta-Carotene & Lung Cancer in Smokers-Literature Survey-

Beta-carotene

University of Maryland

• According to University of Maryland Medical Centre;• Eating foods rich in beta-carotene, along with other

antioxidants, including vitamin C & E, seems to protect against some kinds of cancer.

• However, beta-carotene supplements may increase the risk of heart disease & cancer in people who smoke or drink heavily.

• Those people should not take beta-carotene, except under a doctor’s supervision.

Beta-carotene

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre

• Gary E. Goodman, MD, of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in Seattle’s finding is;

• In smokers, the higher risk of lung cancer & death continues even after a person stops taking beta-carotene.

Beta-carotene

How Beta-carotene hurts Smokers?

• The most likely reason is that damaging free radicals in cigarette smoke may get a boost from megadoses of beta-carotene.

• Because beta-carotene is unstable in cigarette smoke exposed lungs where it forms oxidized metabolites that can induce carcinogen bioactivating enzymes.

• A lifetime of healthy eating, they say, is far better than a few years of high-dose vitamins during middle age.

Beta-carotene

Nutr Cancer. 2009

• Intervention studies in smokers have unexpectedly reported increased lung tumor rates after high, long term, beta-carotene supplementation.

• No effects or even protective effects against smoke or carcinogen exposure were observed when beta-carotene was applied at physiological dosages or in combination with vitamin C & E, either as a mixture or in a stable formulation.

• Human & animal studies have shown that specific circumstances, among them heavy smoking, seem to influence the effect of high beta-carotene intakes. In normal, healthy, nonsmoking populations, there is evidence of beneficial effects.

Beta-carotene

Int J Cancer. 2010

• The incidence of lung & stomach cancers were significantly increased in individuals supplemented with beta-carotene at 20-30mg a day, in smokers & asbestos workers compared to the placebo group.

• Conversely, it was associated with increased risk not only of lung cancer but also of gastric cancer at doses of 20-30mg a day, in smokers & asbestos workers.

Beta-carotene

Journal Of American Medical Association

• A Finnish study , reported in the Journal of American Medical Association, followed male smokers over 5-8 years. Those taking beta-carotene supplements had an 18 percent higher lung cancer rate.

• Another study, CARET, taking 18000 women and men who smoked heavily or were exposed to asbestos showed an increased lung cancer rate of 28% in the group that supplemented with beta-carotene/Vitamin A.

• Beta-carotene is easily lost from the body and it should be taken as 3-5 mgs up to 4 times a day.

Beta-carotene

CONCLUSION

Beta-carotene

Conclusion

“The conclusion is simple and has nothing to do with supplements: smoking increases the risk of lung cancer.”

Andrew Shao, PhD, CRN

Beta-carotene

Conclusion

• High dosing (20-30mg a day) in heavy smokers & asbestos works is a risk i.e. increases the risk of lung & gastric cancer.

• In normal, healthy, nonsmoking populations, Beta-carotene is safe & well tolerated.

• When beta-carotene is applied at physiological dosages or in combination with vitamin C & E, either as a mixture or in a stable formulation there are no effects or even protective effects against smoke or carcinogen exposure.

• In smokers, the higher risk of lung cancer & death continues even after a person stops taking beta-carotene.

Beta-carotene

Phr. Asad KamranTechnical Consultant, MPD

Deurali-Janta Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd.