Exposed to Asbestos? Don’t Take Beta Carotene
Health supplements are supposed to make you healthier or at least feel healthier, but new studies show that people exposed to asbestos might be worse off if they take beta carotene health supplements. In fact, they might be more at risk of lung cancer or death related to cardiovascular disease than if they didn’t take these health supplements at all.
Have you been taking beta carotene? Have you been exposed to asbestos? Here’s what you need to know.
What is Beta Carotene?
Beta carotene is a red-orange pigment in fruit and vegetables, particularly colourful vegetables like carrots. It was first crystallised from carrot roots in the 1830s and was given the name ‘carotene’.
Our bodies turn beta carotene into vitamin A, which we need for our immune system, eye health, skin, and mucus membranes. Interestingly, our bodies only convert as much beta carotene into vitamin A as we need, which is helpful since too much vitamin A can be toxic.
While you can consume it in supplement form, you can also enjoy beta carotene in fruits and vegetables like broccoli, apricots, grapefruit, onions, spinach, sweet potatoes, and peas.
The benefits of beta carotene are well known, which is why many people take supplements. It’s an antioxidant, and some studies have shown that it might slow down cognitive decline in some people.
However, some of the long-held beliefs about beta carotene’s benefits are now being reevaluated. While some people may have been taking this supplement to prevent lung cancer or cardiovascular disease, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has actually now concluded that a particular group of people might be more harmed by beta carotene than helped.
Increased Cardiovascular Disease and Lung Cancer Risks
A panel of experts made up of medical volunteers concluded that beta carotene health supplements could increase the risk of lung cancer or the risk of death from cardiovascular disease in people regularly exposed to asbestos or who smoked.
According to the report, these areas were where the most severe harm was identified, especially when associated with beta carotene supplements.
These results echo what had already been concluded in a 2005 French study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. In this study, researchers found that smokers with high beta carotene levels were more at risk of lung cancer and smoking-related cancers than other smokers.
Non-smokers with high beta-carotene levels also had a lower risk of lung cancer. Over a decade-long period, they found the risk of lung cancer to be:
181.8/10,000 women (non-smokers, low beta carotene intake)
81.7/10,000 women (non-smokers, high beta carotene intake)
174/10,000 women (smokers, low beta carotene intake)
368.3/10,000 women (smokers, high beta carotene intake)
The study also concluded that the high beta carotene levels were almost always from supplements rather than food.
Can the Results Be Trusted?
The results of any study should be reviewed to ensure they’re credible, but there’s no reason to doubt the conclusions of this study. We already know that asbestos exposure itself can lead to serious health issues, such as lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma.
Now, we just have evidence to suggest that something on top of asbestos is not doing our health any favours. The study was undertaken by volunteer medical professionals, such as doctors, from a variety of well-respected schools like Mayo Clinic, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Harvard Medical School.
Before they made their final recommendations, they also reviewed nine clinical trials with vitamin E and six with beta carotene.
Why Did We Even Research This?
Looking into beta carotene as a supplement that increases the risk of cancer in smokers and those exposed to asbestos seems a little…random. However, how the determination was made is quite surprising.
Researchers found a protective association between beta carotene-rich vegetables and lung cancer risk in early observational studies. So, they thought there might be a chemoprevention strategy waiting to be found in beta carotene supplements.
Instead of finding a supplement that could lower the risk of developing cancer, they shockingly discovered that it might actually cause cancer in people who smoke.
What Else Should We Know About Beta Carotene?
Beta carotene supplements might be more than suitable for non-smokers and those who have never been regularly exposed to asbestos. However, they might be less ideal for people using the following medications and drugs
Statins (a class of drugs to lower cholesterol) – Patients taking beta carotene might experience less effectiveness in simvastatin and niacin (a B vitamin)
Cholesterol-lowering drugs – Patients taking cholesterol-lowering drugs might experience 30-40% reduced blood levels of beta carotene
Weight control medication – Some weight control medications can prevent beta carotene absorption by up to 30%
Mineral oil (for constipation) – Mineral oil can lower beta carotene levels in the blood
Alcohol – Long-term alcohol use can interact with beta carotene, potentially increasing the risk of liver problems