History Basic information beta-Carotene is one of more than 600 carotenoids known to exist in nature.
Carotenoids are yellow to red pigments that are widely distributed in plants.
About 50 of these can potentially yield vitamin A activity and are thus referred to as provitamin A carotenoids. However, inside the body, beta-carotene is only partially converted to vitamin A and the rest is stored as such. Currently available evidence suggests that in addition to being a safe source of vitamin A, beta-carotene plays many important biological roles that may be independent of its provitamin status. The beta-carotene content of fruits and vegetables can vary depending on the season and degree of ripening. The bioavailability of beta-carotene from fruits and vegetables depends on the method of preparation before ingestion.