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Arch Ophthalmol. 2003;121:403-407.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Carotenoids, specifically -carotene, are the major source of vitamin A in the diet. -Carotene is present in vegetables or may be taken as a single dietary supplement (beta carotene), sometimes combined with other vitamins and antioxidants. In humans, the conversion of -carotene to vitamin A occurs in the small intestine. The daily vitamin A requirement is 2500 IU, which is equivalent to approximately 1.5 mg of beta carotene. -Carotene is absorbed from the intestine and is primarily stored in liver and adipose tissue. It has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a color additive and is generally recognized as safe as a dietary supplement.¹

Studies in animal models have examined the effects of excessive intake of beta carotene with regard to its potential carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, embryotoxicity, effects on reproductive functions, and as a cause of hypervitaminosis A.² Data from both human and animal studies indicate that excessive . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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Corresponding author and reprints: Robert S. Feder, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 645 N Michigan Ave, Suite 440, Chicago, IL 60611 (e-mail: r-feder@northwestern.edu).