France – Marie-Christine Boutron-Ruault,director of research in Inserm, warns against the beta-carotene pills helping at tanning. According to the results of the work carried out, they can be dangerous for smokers and ex-smokers.

The nutritional supplements fortified with beta-carotene assert more better to prepare the skin to the sun and ensure an easier tanning, more intense and lasting. Yet nothing has ever proved the effectiveness of these products.

Previous studies had shown that if a supplement of beta-carotene decreased the risk of skin tumors in mice, this was not the case in humans. More recent research have shown that beta-carotene does not protect skin cancers, but increases the risk of lung cancer in smokers and former smokers.

The team of Marie-Christine Boutron-Ruault decided to further research by analyzing the habits of 70,000 women. In non-smokers with high consumption of beta-carotene, the number of cancer cases was 81.7 per 10,000. For smokers or former smokers, it is 368.3 per 10,000 women, or 4.5 times more.

This study encourages caution against supplements beta carotene for  smokers and nonsmokers. The National Cancer Institute recommends not to consume these supplements, except in cases of proven deficiency and under the supervision of a physician. Fruits and vegetables provide sufficient beta-carotene dose, but excessive consumption can cause the same dangers as pills.