beta-carotene and Jaundice

Carotenemia is generally benign and usually caused by excessive intake of beta-carotene rich food. This clinical presentation can occur in any age group but frequently occurs in children. We report a rare case of carotenemia with an isolated involvement of the nose and presented in order to remind carotenemia in the differential diagnosis of jaundice. Carotenemia is often easily recognized and dealt with by family medicine and pediatricians who may potentially get involved in the management of these cases. It is also important to know and recognize carotenemia in terms of informing families and preventing unnecessary tests.. La carotenemia es, en general, benigna y suele ser causada por la ingesta excesiva de alimentos ricos en betacaroteno. Su presentación clínica puede ocurrir a cualquier edad, pero es frecuente en los niños. En este artículo, describimos un caso raro de carotenemia con afectación nasal aislada con el objetivo de recordar la presencia de carotenemia en el diagnóstico diferencial de ictericia. A menudo, la carotenemia se reconoce fácilmente y la manejan los médicos de familia y los pediatras, que podrían participar potencialmente en el tratamiento de estos casos. También es importante conocer y reconocer la carotenemia para informar a las familias y evitar la realización de pruebas innecesarias.

Topics: beta Carotene; Child, Preschool; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Jaundice; Nose; Pigmentation Disorders; Skin Pigmentation

Serum bilirubin measurement is necessary to accurately distinguish jaundice from carotenemia. A 59.8-y old Japanese male showed symptoms of yellow skin pigmentation as a result of β-carotenemia. Diagnostic laboratory results indicated elevated levels of serum muscle enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase), but normal levels in liver function tests (alanine aminotransferase and direct bilirubin). The laboratory results indicated hypothyroid myopathy. Moreover, although the patient did not show significant abnormalities in liver function tests, the serum level of total bilirubin (TBIL) measured by bilirubin oxidase method was markedly increased beyond the upper limit of normal. Fundamental experiments revealed that the bilirubin oxidase method had a positive interference by β-carotene. These findings suggested that hyper β-carotenemia could have caused the falsely elevated serum TBIL levels in the patient.

Topics: beta Carotene; Bilirubin; Diagnostic Errors; Humans; Jaundice; Male; Middle Aged; Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors; Pigmentation Disorders

Topics: beta Carotene; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Hyperpigmentation; Infant; Infant Food; Jaundice; Male

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; beta Carotene; Humans; Jaundice; Lung Neoplasms; Macular Degeneration; Middle Aged; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Smoke Inhalation Injury; Vitamin E; Zinc

The condition of carotenaemia is harmless but can lead to the mistaken diagnosis of jaundice; it may also be a feature in hypothyroidism. A case of carotenaemia in a baby is reported, caused by an excess of carrots in his mixed feeds, and the diagnostic features are emphasised.

Topics: beta Carotene; Carotenoids; Humans; Infant; Infant Food; Jaundice; Male; Pigmentation Disorders; Vegetables