Introduction:
Alpha carotene is a plant nutrient which is a fat-soluble precursor to vitamin A. It is better absorbed in the diet when consumed along with some fat contained within a meal.
Alpha carotene and mortality:
In the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey by Li C. et al, 15,000 adults over the age of 20 years old were tested for level of alpha-carotene. It was found that adults with lower concentrations of alpha-carotene compared with higher concentrations resulted in a lower rate of mortality from cardiovascular disease, cancer and all-causes (1).
Common Highest Alpha Carotene Containing Foods (2):
| Pumpkin, canned, without salt, 1 cup | 11748 mcg |
| Carrot juice, canned, 1 cup | 10247 mcg |
| Pumpkin, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt, 1 cup | 6652 mcg |
| Carrots, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt, 1 cup | 5891 mcg |
| Carrots, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt, 1 cup | 5425 mcg |
| Vegetables, mixed, canned, drained solids, 1 cup | 4297 mcg |
| Carrots, canned, regular pack, drained solids, 1 cup | 4005 mcg |
| Carrots, raw, 1 cup | 3825 mcg |
| Carrots, raw, 1 carrot | 2503 mcg |
| Vegetables, mixed, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt, 1 cup | 1762 mcg |
| Squash, winter, all varieties, cooked, baked, without salt, 1 cup | 1398 mcg |
| Soup, chunky vegetable, canned, ready-to-serve , 1 cup | 1229 mcg |
| Plantains, raw, 1 medium | 784 mcg |
| Pie, pumpkin, commercially prepared, 1 piece | 748 mcg |
| Soup, chunky chicken noodle, canned, ready-to-serve, 1 cup | 638 mcg |
| Soup, vegetable beef, canned, prepared with equal volume water, 1 cup | 598 mcg |
| Plantains, cooked, 1 cup | 544 mcg |
| Vegetable juice cocktail, canned, 1 cup | 508 mcg |
| Soup, vegetarian vegetable, canned, made with equal volume water, 1 cup | 494 mcg |
| Carrots, baby, raw, 1 medium | 377 mcg |
| Tangerines, (mandarin oranges), canned, light syrup pack, 1 cup | 330 mcg |
| Chicken pot pie, frozen entree, prepared, 1 small pie | 265 mcg |
| Dandelion greens, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt, 1 cup | 256 mcg |
| Soup, minestrone, canned, reduced sodium, ready-to-serve , 1 cup | 239 mcg |
| Collards, frozen, chopped, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt, 1 cup | 216 mcg |
| Beans, snap, green, canned, regular pack, drained solids, 1 cup | 211 mcg |
| Tomatoes, red, ripe, raw, year round average, 1 cup | 182 mcg |
| Soup, bean with pork, canned, prepared with equal volume water, 1 cup | 147 mcg |
| Collards, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt, 1 cup | 129 mcg |
Summary and Conclusion: Alpha Carotene
- A population survey showed that adults with lower concentrations of alpha-carotene compared with higher concentrations resulted in a lower rate of mortality from cardiovascular disease, cancer and all-causes (1)
References :
1.Li C, Ford ES, Zhao G, Balluz LS, Giles WH, Liu S. Serum α-carotene concentrations and risk of death among US Adults: the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Follow-up Study. Arch Intern Med. 2011 Mar 28;171(6):507-15. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21098341
2.Adapted from: Nutritive Value of Foods, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Home and Garden Bulletin Number 72. May be accessed at: https://www.ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/Place/12354500/Data/SR25/nutrlist/sr25w322.pdf and http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/HG72/hg72_2002.pdf