eMedicine Specialties > Pediatrics: General Medicine > Nutrition
Carotenemia: Differential Diagnoses & Workup
Updated: Jul 16, 2009
- Overview
- Differential Diagnoses & Workup
- Treatment & Medication
- Follow-up
- Multimedia
Differential Diagnoses
Other Problems to Be Considered
Excess ingestion or percutaneous absorption of chemicals (eg, quinacrine, mepacrine, dinitrophenol, saffron, tetryl, picric acid, canthaxanthin)
Lycopenemia
Carotene consumption (excessive)
Diabetes mellitus
Hypothyroidism
Anorexia nervosa
Liver disease
Kidney disease
Inborn errors of metabolism
Familial conditions (may be associated with carotenemia)
Workup
Laboratory Studies
- Laboratory studies are not generally indicated in the evaluation of diet-induced carotenemia.
- If measured, serum carotene levels are elevated, ranging between 250-500 µg/dL. Multiple authors have reported wide variations in reference range values of serum carotene, making the interpretation of such values difficult.
More on Carotenemia |
| Overview: Carotenemia |
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Carotenemia |
| Treatment & Medication: Carotenemia |
| Follow-up: Carotenemia |
| Multimedia: Carotenemia |
| References |
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References
Sale TA, Stratman E. Carotenemia associated with green bean ingestion. Pediatr Dermatol. Nov-Dec 2004;21(6):657-9. [Medline].
Arya V, Grzybowski J, Schwartz RA. Carotenemia. Cutis. Jun 2003;71(6):441-2, 448. [Medline].
Karthik SV, Campbell-Davidson D, Isherwood D. Carotenemia in infancy and its association with prevalent feeding practices. Pediatr Dermatol. Nov-Dec 2006;23(6):571-3. [Medline].
Lascari AD. Carotenemia. A review. Clin Pediatr (Phila). Jan 1981;20(1):25-9. [Medline].
LaVoo EJ, Paller AS. Common skin problems during the first year of life. Pediatr Clin North Am. Oct 1994;41(5):1105-19. [Medline].
Leung AK. Carotenemia. Adv Pediatr. 1987;34:223-48. [Medline].
Nishimura T. A correlation between carotenemia and biliary dyskinesia. J Dermatol. May 1993;20(5):287-92. [Medline].
Rock CL. Carotenoids: biology and treatment. Pharmacol Ther. Sep 1997;75(3):185-97. [Medline].
Schwenk TL, Byrne WJ, Smith MA. Carotenemia. Am Fam Physician. Jul 1987;36(1):135-6. [Medline].
Takita Y, Ichimiya M, Hamamoto Y, Muto M. A case of carotenemia associated with ingestion of nutrient supplements. J Dermatol. Feb 2006;33(2):132-4. [Medline].
Further Reading
Keywords
carotenemia, yellow pigmentation of the skin, beta-carotene, elevated beta-carotene levels, carotene-rich foods, yellow pigment in carrots, carotenoids, dietary vitamin A, diet-induced carotenemia, excessive consumption of carotene-rich foods, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, anorexia nervosa, liver disease, kidney disease, inborn errors of metabolism, xanthemia, carotinemia, carotene, elevated serum carotene, diet-induced carotenemia, asparagus, broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, spinach, squash, sweet potatoes, apples, oranges, peaches, prunes, tomatoes, yams, butter, egg yolks, milk, yellow corn, anorexia nervosa, treatment, diagnosis
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Carotenemia