Changes

* Alpha-carotene produces half the vitamin A that beta-carotene does. Alpha-carotene is found in similar foods to beta-carotene and is often studied in conjunction with that carotenoid, though it is rarer and less well-understood.

* Longevity : Recently, scientists have been paying more attention to alpha-carotene, and have found some potential longevity benefits, in addition to the vitamin A goodness alpha-carotene can provide. A study published in Archives of Internal Medicine found a correlation between alpha-carotene intake and longevity. Looking at results from the 14-year study, researchers found that high blood levels of alpha-carotene were inversely associated with cancer death, cardiovascular disease and all other illness causes. The correlation between high levels of alpha-carotene and a lower risk of death from diabetes and lower respiratory disease were especially high. It is worth noting that because alpha-carotene is not widely available in supplement form, these participants were getting their alpha-carotene from fruits and vegetables.