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Head-to-head evidence comparison — which supplement is right for you?
Beta-Carotene vs Canthaxanthin: their evidence isn't directly comparable (one is unscored); they're alternatives for tanning & skin darkening — the best pick depends on your goals. Take the 60-second quiz for a pick tailored to your goals.
Beta-Carotene wins 1 of 3 categories. Both are solid choices — the best pick depends on your specific goals.
Verdict
Mostly mechanism / observational
Top outcomes
Verdict
Mostly mechanism / observational
Top outcomes
No supplemental dose is recommended for skin colour. Beta-carotene from food carries none of the trial risk; the harm signal is specific to high-dose supplementation.
Food sources rather than a supplement
No appropriate dose. This entry exists so the compound can be screened, not taken.
Not recommended in any form
Additive pigment deposition, and additive retinal crystal deposition, which is dose-dependent for canthaxanthin.
Do not combine. Neither produces a tan, and stacking them raises the cumulative carotenoid load that drives deposition.
Weeks
Years
Not applicable
Weeks
Months to years
Weeks to months
The effect of vitamin E and beta carotene on the incidence of lung cancer and other cancers in male smokers.
N Engl J Med (1994) · Rct · n=29133
29,133 male smokers aged 50-69 randomised to alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, both, or placebo
Effects of a combination of beta carotene and vitamin A on lung cancer and cardiovascular disease.
N Engl J Med (1996) · Rct · n=18314
18,314 smokers, former smokers and asbestos-exposed workers randomised to 30 mg beta-carotene plus 25,000 IU retinol or placebo
Antioxidant supplements for prevention of mortality in healthy participants and patients with various diseases.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev (2012) · Meta analysis
78 randomised trials with 296,707 participants; 56 trials at low risk of bias
Canthaxanthin retinopathy: long-term observations.
Ophthalmic Res (2011) · Observational · n=35
13 of 35 people with known canthaxanthin consumption had golden particles near the macula
Canthaxanthin retinopathy with visual loss: a case report and review.
Case Rep Ophthalmol Med (2013) · Case study · n=1
Retinopathy appears as birefringent yellow-to-red crystals surrounding the macula
Aplastic anemia associated with canthaxanthin ingested for 'tanning' purposes.
JAMA (1990) · Case study · n=1
Aplastic anaemia with a fatal outcome in a previously healthy young woman
Beta-Carotene has gradable evidence while Canthaxanthin has insufficient evidence to score and wins in 1 of 3 categories.
For tanning & skin darkening, Canthaxanthin has a higher relevance score (25 vs 15).
Additive pigment deposition, and additive retinal crystal deposition, which is dose-dependent for canthaxanthin. Do not combine. Neither produces a tan, and stacking them raises the cumulative carotenoid load that drives deposition. Consult a healthcare provider for personalized advice.
The right pick depends on your goals. Answer a few quick questions for a personalised recommendation — or dig into the full evidence on each.