Beta-carotene And The Liver

Beta-carotene is an organic yellow-orange pigment that gives plants --- and the foods derived from these plants, such as carrots, mangoes, yams and papayas --- their color. It is just one possible molecule that your body can use to manufacture vitamin A, which is a generic term for a number of related compounds, such as retinol and retinal, that play a critical role in a strong immune system, healthy skin, vision and childhood development. Most of the beta-carotene that you consume passes through the liver.

Liver Function

The liver is a major source of metabolic reactions in your body. It acts like a manufacturing plant, producing proteins, carbohydrates and cholesterol and breaking down hormones and toxins. It is also the location at which your cells convert beta-carotene into vitamin A. Most of the work occurs in the intestines, but the liver transforms beta-carotene into its final storable form. This is why animal liver, if you include it in your diet, is a rich source of vitamin A. For example, cod liver oil works as a vitamin A supplement.

Cholestatic Liver Disease

According to a 2010 study published in the "Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition," a group of researchers from Poland found a distinct lack of beta-carotene within children who have chronic cholestatic liver disease, a condition characterized by the reduced formation or flow of bile. They attribute this phenomenon to a paucity of intestinal absorption. Bile is an important component in the digestion of nutrients. This problem, though not extensively studied, will require more research.

Liver Cirrhosis

Liver cirrhosis is a serious condition in which damaged or scarred tissue replaces normal healthy liver tissue. People who have this disease tend to have lower beta-carotene concentrations. This fact may hypothetically justify the use of beta-carotene as a supplement. A 2001 study published in "The Israel Medical Association Journal" suggests that, at least in animal models, treatments using beta-carotene helped diminish the effects of liver cirrhosis. However, stopping the consumption of alcohol is an obvious precondition for any treatment of liver cirrhosis. Alcohol can cause a buildup of beta-carotene in the blood, potentially damaging the liver further.

Cancer

Studies in cell cultures and animal models have documented the capability of vitamin A to significantly reduce cancer-causing carcinogens in several organs, including the liver, but researchers have not been able to establish a similar relationship in human studies. Therefore, the consumption of beta-carotene to prevent cancer also seems like a dubious treatment.

Deficiencies and Supplementation

Children are particularly susceptible to deficiencies of vitamin A, which can lead to a vicious cycle: deficiencies may cause an infectious disease, reducing retinol blood levels and the synthesis of important retinol-binding proteins in the liver. This in turn increases the risk of death from infectious disease. However, deficiencies are less common in the developed world, even among children. In most cases, beta-carotene from a balanced diet should be enough to maintain proper vitamin A levels and normal health. If you consume beta-carotene supplements, talk to a doctor.