People taking the following medications should avoid beta-carotene
supplements:
Cholestyramine, Colestipol, Probucol
Cholestyramine and probucol, medications used to lower cholesterol, can lower
blood concentrations of dietary beta carotene by 30% to 40%, according to a
3-year trial in Sweden. Colestipol, a cholesterol-lowering medication similar to
cholestyramin, may also reduce beta-carotene levels.
Orlistat
Beta-carotene and orlistat, a weight loss medication, should not be taken
together because orlistat can reduce the absorption of beta-carotene by as much
as 30%, thereby reducing the amount of this nutrient in the body. Those who must
take both orlistat and beta-carotene supplements should separate the time
between taking the medication and the supplements by at least 2 hours.
Other
In addition to these medications, mineral oil (used to treat constipation)
may lower blood concentrations of beta-carotene and ongoing use of alcohol may
interact with beta-carotene, increasing the likelihood of liver
damage.