eMedicine Specialties > Pediatrics: General Medicine > Nutrition

Carotenemia: Follow-up

Author: Raymond D Pitetti, MD, MPH, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, University of Pittsburgh Physicians
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Jul 16, 2009

Follow-up

Further Outpatient Care

  • Outpatient follow-up of the patient with diet-induced carotenemia is not required.

Complications

  • Complications are rare with diet-induced carotenemia.
  • Vitamin A poisoning does not occur despite even massive doses of carotene because the conversion of carotene to vitamin A occurs slowly.

Prognosis

  • Carotenemia caused by dietary excess is considered benign and harmless.

Patient Education

  • Reassure parents that diet-induced carotenemia is a benign condition that requires no treatment. If extreme parental anxiety is present, physicians can inform parents which foods are rich in carotene, and the child can be placed on a carotene-deficient diet.
  • Inform parents that many green vegetables, such as spinach and green beans, are rich in carotene.1

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • A potential medicolegal pitfall would be misidentifying jaundice due to an organic cause as diet-induced carotenemia.
 


More on Carotenemia

Overview: Carotenemia
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Carotenemia
Treatment & Medication: Carotenemia
Follow-up: Carotenemia
Multimedia: Carotenemia
References
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References

  1. Sale TA, Stratman E. Carotenemia associated with green bean ingestion. Pediatr Dermatol. Nov-Dec 2004;21(6):657-9. [Medline].

  2. Arya V, Grzybowski J, Schwartz RA. Carotenemia. Cutis. Jun 2003;71(6):441-2, 448. [Medline].

  3. 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].

  4. Lascari AD. Carotenemia. A review. Clin Pediatr (Phila). Jan 1981;20(1):25-9. [Medline].

  5. LaVoo EJ, Paller AS. Common skin problems during the first year of life. Pediatr Clin North Am. Oct 1994;41(5):1105-19. [Medline].

  6. Leung AK. Carotenemia. Adv Pediatr. 1987;34:223-48. [Medline].

  7. Nishimura T. A correlation between carotenemia and biliary dyskinesia. J Dermatol. May 1993;20(5):287-92. [Medline].

  8. Rock CL. Carotenoids: biology and treatment. Pharmacol Ther. Sep 1997;75(3):185-97. [Medline].

  9. Schwenk TL, Byrne WJ, Smith MA. Carotenemia. Am Fam Physician. Jul 1987;36(1):135-6. [Medline].

  10. 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].

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Further Reading

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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

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Raymond D Pitetti, MD, MPH, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, University of Pittsburgh Physicians
Raymond D Pitetti, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Allegheny County Medical Society, American Academy of Pediatrics, Pennsylvania Medical Society, and Society for Pediatric Research
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Maria Rebello Mascarenhas, MBBS, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Section Chief, Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Director, Nutrition Support Service, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Maria Rebello Mascarenhas, MBBS is a member of the following medical societies: American Gastroenterological Association, American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, and North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Mary L Windle, PharmD, Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Pfizer Inc Stock Investment from financial planner; Avanir Pharma Stock Investment from financial planner ; WebMD Salary and stock Employment and investment from financial planner

Managing Editor

Jatinder Bhatia, MBBS, Professor of Pediatrics, Chief, Section of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Georgia
Jatinder Bhatia, MBBS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Dietetic Association, American Federation for Clinical Research, American Pediatric Society, American Society for Clinical Nutrition, American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, New York Academy of Sciences, Society for Pediatric Research, and Southern Society for Pediatric Research
Disclosure: Mead Johnson Consulting fee Consulting; Mead Johnson Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Dey LP Consulting fee Consulting; Dey LP Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Ovation Honoraria Speaking and teaching

CME Editor

Merrily P M Poth, MD, Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Neuroscience, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Merrily P M Poth, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, Endocrine Society, and Lawson-Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Jatinder Bhatia, MBBS, Professor of Pediatrics, Chief, Section of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Georgia
Jatinder Bhatia, MBBS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Dietetic Association, American Federation for Clinical Research, American Pediatric Society, American Society for Clinical Nutrition, American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, New York Academy of Sciences, Society for Pediatric Research, and Southern Society for Pediatric Research
Disclosure: Mead Johnson Consulting fee Consulting; Mead Johnson Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Dey LP Consulting fee Consulting; Dey LP Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Ovation Honoraria Speaking and teaching

 
 
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