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Possible Interactions with: Beta-Carotene
Interactions/Depletions
People taking the following medications should avoid beta-carotene supplements:
Cholestyramine, Colestipol
Cholestyramine, a medication used to lower cholesterol, can lower blood concentrations of dietary beta carotene by 30 - 40 %, according to a 3-year study in Sweden. Colestipol, a cholesterol-lowering medication similar to cholestyramin, may also reduce beta-carotene levels.
Orlistat
You should not take beta-carotene with orlistat, a weight loss medication, because orlistat can reduce the absorption of beta-carotene by as much as 30 %, thereby reducing the amount of this nutrient in the body. If you must take both orlistat and beta-carotene supplements, you should separate the time between taking the medication and the supplements by at least 2 hours.
Other
In addition to these medications, mineral oil (used to treat constipation) may lower blood concentrations of beta-carotene and ongoing use of alcohol may interact with beta-carotene, increasing the likelihood of liver damage.
Alternative Names
b-carotene; Beta-Carotene; Betacarotenum; Provitamin A; Trans-Beta-Carotene
Review Date: 2006-11-09
Reviewed By: Ernest B. Hawkins, MS, BSPharm, RPh, Health Education Resources; and Steven D. Ehrlich, N.M.D., private practice specializing in complementary and alternative medicine, Phoenix, AZ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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