Betacarotene
Betacarotene
Betacarotene facts
- Betacarotene is the precursor of vitamin A
- Betacarotene gets converted into vitamin A in the intestines
- Betacarotene is responsible for orange coloured fruits and vegetables
Betacarotene is the precursor to vitamin A, so when foods high in betacarotene are eaten the body can convert the betacarotene into vitamin A as required.
Betacarotene gets converted into vitamin A (by the thyroid hormone thyroxine) in the intestines and liver in a complex process as and when it is required. If there are insufficient levels of thyroxine in the blood, the conversion of betacarotene to vitamin A may not occur adequately and deficiency may result if no foods in vitamin A are also eaten in the diet.
The orange colour in orange-coloured (and some orange-yellow or red-orange) fruits and vegetables comes from betacarotene. Any fruit or vegetables that is oranged-coloured is rich in betacarotene – nectarines, yellow peaches, pumpkin, carrots, squash, sweet potato.
