CaroCare® (natural beta-carotene)
DSM is a leading provider of natural beta-carotene.
Our CaroCare® solution offers a range of natural-source beta-carotene formulations that offer ease of use, superior color stability and guaranteed minimum color intensity.
Beta-carotene is a member of the carotenoid family - highly pigmented (red, orange, yellow), fat-soluble compounds found naturally in many fruits, grains, oils, and vegetables.
Among the carotenoids that can be converted to vitamin A in the human body (so-called ‘provitamin A carotenoids’), beta-carotene is the most abundant and efficient one found in foods.
As an intense pigment, beta-carotene is widely used as a colorant in food, beverage and pharmaceutical applications.
Key benefits
Beta-carotene is important to the body because it functions as:
- A safe source of vitamin A, helping the body to reach the vitamin A levels essential for normal growth and development, good vision and eye health, a strong immune system, and healthy skin
- An antioxidant that helps protect the body against the damaging effects of free radicals, which can potentially increase the risk of developing certain diseases, including cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
These attributes, combined with beta-carotene’s high pigmentation level make it an extremely effective and healthy color for use in food, beverage and pharmaceutical preparations. Beta-carotene formulations offer yellow, orange and orange-red color shades.
Applications
DSM’s CaroCare® offers a range of natural-source beta-carotene formulated for superior performance in soft gel capsules, directly compressed tablets and two-piece hard-shell capsules. Our coloration-specific CaroCare® formulations offer ease-of-use, superior color stability and guaranteed minimum color intensity.
As the most efficient ‘provitamin A carotenoid’ beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A only when the body needs it. This makes it ideal for dietary supplements and ‘ACE’ antioxidant beverages to offer a safe source of vitamin A.
Beta-carotene is also used extensively as a colorant in food, beverage and pharmaceutical formulations where its healthy attributes, excellent stability (when used in the presence of an antioxidant) and high-color strength make it ideal for when a yellow, orange or orange-red color is needed.
