Sun Sensitivity
Studies suggest that high doses of beta-carotene may make people with a particular condition less sensitive to the sun. People with erythropoietic protoporphyria, a rare genetic condition that causes painful sun sensitivity, as well as liver problems, are often treated with beta-carotene to reduce sun sensitivity. Under a doctor's care, the dose or beta-carotene is slowly adjusted over a period of weeks, and the person can have more exposure to sunlight.
Age related Macular Degeneration
A major clinical trial, the Age Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS1), found that people who had macular degeneration could slow its progression by taking zinc (80 mg), vitamin C (500 mg), vitamin E (400 mg), beta-carotene (15 mg), and copper (2 mg). Age related macular degeneration is an eye disease that happens when the macula, the part of the retina that is responsible for central vision, starts to break down.
Metabolic Syndrome
In one study of middle-aged and older men, those who ate more foods with carotenoids, mainly beta-carotene nd lycopene, were less likely to have metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a group of symptoms and risk factors that increase your chance of heart disease and diabetes. The men also had lower measures of body fat and triglycerides, a kind of blood fat.
Oral leukoplakia
People with oral leukoplakia have white lesions in their mouths or on their tongues. It is usually caused by years of smoking or drinking alcohol. One study found that people with leukoplakia who took beta-carotene had fewer symptoms than those who took placebo. Because taking beta-carotene might put smokers at higher risk of lung cancer, however, you should not take beta-carotene for leukoplakia on your own. Ask your doctor if it would be safe for you.
Scleroderma
People with scleroderma, a connective tissue disorder characterized by hardened skin, have low levels of beta-carotene in their blood. That has caused some researchers to think beta-carotene supplements may be helpful for people with scleroderma. So far, however, research has not found that to be true. For now, it is best to get beta-carotene from foods in your diet and avoid supplements until more studies are done.