Will Beta Carotene Be a Market Booster?

What is Beta Carotene?

Beta Carotene 10% Powder is a potent antioxidant. It is converted into vitamin A (retinol) in the human body. Known as a vital nutrient for vision, vitamin A plays a key role in cell growth and maintaining the health of organs such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys.

Beta carotene was crystallized by H. Wachenroder from carrot roots in 1831 and put forward the name carotene.

What are the Food Sources of Beta Carotene?

Beta carotene precursor is concentrated in red, orange or yellow fruits and vegetables. Some studies show that cooked carrots supply more carotenoids than raw carrots. Adding healthy fat, such as olive oil, avocado, or nuts and seeds, also increases the bioavailability of carotenoids. Beta carotene is a fat-soluble compound, which is why consuming this nutrient with fat can improve its absorption.

Foods are rich in beta carotene: carrots, broccoli, asparagus, apricots, grapefruit, kale, onions, pumpkin, cantaloupes, spinach, squash, sweet potatoes, Chinese cabbage, peas, peppers, plums, herbs and spices (chilli powder, oregano, paprika, parsley), ketchup, chives and etc.

For reference, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) food database provides details on beta carotene content as below:

★ 100 grams of cooked carrots supply 8,279 micrograms (mcg) of beta carotene.

★ 100 grams of cooked spinach with no added fat supply about 6,103 mcg of beta carotene.

★ 100 grams of boiled sweet potatoes contain 9,406 mcg of beta carotene.

What is the market potential of beta carotene?

The beta carotene market size was valued at over USD 520 million in 2020 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of over 6% during the period 2021-2027. Strong demand and powerful applications in food processing, animal nutrition, and dietary supplements, as well as increasing health awareness among consumers are driving the industry outlook.

The global beta carotene market share in powder form was totalled over USD 470 million in 2020. Powdered products have outstanding properties that are easier to store, transport and have a longer shelf life than liquid forms, thus reducing the chance of spoilage. This has increased their utilization in several industries such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, etc. Therefore, there is a growing demand for beta carotene supplements in powder form in the market. Compared to liquid form, powdered products are widely used in the manufacture of additives for food processing, animal feed, and dietary supplements due to their reduced chance of spoilage, low cost, and ease of manufacture. Beta-carotene products in powder form are commonly used in food and beverage applications such as confectionery, instant powdered beverages, preserves, chewing gum, biscuits, soup powders, pasta and fermented dairy products.

The global beta carotene market from dietary supplement applications is likely to exceed USD 170 million by 2027. Dietary supplements are derived from animal, plant, seafood and microbial strains and are used to increase the body's nutrient intake. Positive indicators in sports nutrition due to changing lifestyles and increasing awareness of the benefits of beta carotene intake should drive the growth of the dietary supplement segment.