The slitlamp examination revealed a circumferential orange-yellow pigment deposit in the peripheral cornea. The pupils were equal and reactive to light. There was no evidence of scleral icterus. The external examination showed a yellow discoloration of the skin, most prominent in the palms. On examination, the patient had a best-corrected visual acuity of 20/30 OU. Estimates of her carotenoid intake based on daily consumption of carrots are as follows: 53.8 mg/d of beta carotene (range, 12.5-100.1 mg/d), 24.5 mg/d of alpha carotene (range, 3.6-57.9 mg/d), and 1.8 mg/d of a lutein-zeaxanthin combination. Her medications included insulin, atorvastatin, famotidine, fosinopril, furosemide, and an estrogen/medroxyprogesterone combination agent. She had consumed 1 to 2 lbs of carrots per day during the past 10 years. She had a history of hypertension, diabetic nephropathy, and poorly controlled diabetes. A 43-year-old white woman who was treated with laser photocoagulation for proliferative diabetic retinopathy and macular edema more than 10 years previously complained of floaters and occasional flashes. 8, 9 We describe ocular findings in 3 patients with hypercarotenemia, which, to our knowledge, have not previously been described.Ĭase 1. 11, 12 Two of the studies have raised questions regarding the safety of beta carotene supplements in people who smoke due to a paradoxical increase in the risk of lung cancer among those who smoke and take beta carotene. 5 - 7 The beta carotene supplement has been used in large clinical trials in an attempt to reduce the risk of cancer, 8 - 10 cardiovascular disease, 10 and age-related macular degeneration. 3, 4Įpidemiological studies have associated low dietary and/or plasma levels of carotenoids with a higher incidence of certain types of cancer. Thus, high doses of beta carotene are safe, and doses of 30 to 180 mg/d taken for more than 15 years have no adverse effects. A regulatory process exists, such that a higher level of vitamin A triggers a reduction in the conversion process. 2 Data from both human and animal studies indicate that excessive consumption of beta carotene increases the serum β-carotene level but does not result in hypervitaminosis A. Studies in animal models have examined the effects of excessive intake of beta carotene with regard to its potential carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, embryotoxicity, effects on reproductive functions, and as a cause of hypervitaminosis A. It has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a color additive and is generally recognized as safe as a dietary supplement. β-Carotene is absorbed from the intestine and is primarily stored in liver and adipose tissue. The daily vitamin A requirement is 2500 IU, which is equivalent to approximately 1.5 mg of beta carotene. In humans, the conversion of β-carotene to vitamin A occurs in the small intestine. β-Carotene is present in vegetables or may be taken as a single dietary supplement (beta carotene), sometimes combined with other vitamins and antioxidants. Shared Decision Making and CommunicationĬarotenoids, specifically β-carotene, are the major source of vitamin A in the diet.Scientific Discovery and the Future of Medicine.Health Care Economics, Insurance, Payment.Clinical Implications of Basic Neuroscience.Challenges in Clinical Electrocardiography.If you deal with these weird visions before a crushing headache, take heart in the fact that you’re in good company: plenty of luminous artists and thinkers have dealt with the same pain. The zigzag patterns are common to aura sufferers, but the exact cause of their architecture is unknown. It expanded, becoming an enormous shimmering semicircle stretching from the ground to the sky, with sharp zigzagging borders and brilliant blue and orange colors." The esteemed neurologist and writer Oliver Sacks described his first experience with the migraine aura as a young child in The New York Times: "I was playing in the garden when a brilliant, shimmering light appeared to my left - dazzlingly bright, almost as bright as the sun. If medical science has not yet explained the aura, authors from Lewis Carroll to Hilary Mantel have tried to put words to the visual sensation into words. Sometimes auras appear without a following headache, and not all migraine sufferers experience an aura beforehand. In general, however, auras only affect one side of the person’s vision, and they last about an hour or less, as explained by the American Migraine Foundation. The aura’s exact relationship to migraine headaches is still being studied. These visual disturbances, known as an aura, affect around 20% of migraine headache sufferers, according to the National Headache Foundation. The sudden appearance of flashing lights, blind spots, or zigzag lines can mean a monster headache is on its way. This can be the sign of serious headaches. Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders.
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