Hyper-beta-carotenemia unrelated to diet: a case of brain tumor

In addition to the provitamin A function of some carotenoids, many of them exhibit antioxidant activity. Epidemiological studies show that high serum levels and/or elevated intake of carotenoids have a protector effect against several chronic and degenerative diseases. We determined the levels and studied the behavior of the major carotenoids and retinol in serum of a brain tumor patient receiving standard (carotenoid-free) artificial enteral nutrition for eight months. After nearly two months on this diet, the retinol level was in the upper region of normal range and the beta-carotene concentration was unusually high. Analyses after several months on this diet showed a decrease in retinol, whereas the beta-carotene concentration had doubled (up to 203 micrograms/dl). Other carotenoids usually found in serum were present in very small amounts or not at all. We conclude that, although diet is an important factor in the presence and proportion of carotenoids in serum, the case we report here appears to indicate that other factors related to the development of certain diseases may be relevant determinants of changes in the carotenoid profile.