title: Acetaminophen toxicity is substantially reduced by beta-carotene in mice.
abstract: Acetaminophen is toxic in overdose and even at routine therapeutic doses in glutathione-deficient populations such as alcoholics and AIDS patients. We were intrigued by the fact that beta-carotene is stored in the liver, the major organ of detoxification, and we speculated that dietary supplementation of beta-carotene would enhance the liver's ability to withstand toxic challenge from acetaminophen. We present a series of experiments which demonstrate that beta-carotene can prevent death or ameliorate toxicity from acetaminophen in mice.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Baranowitz
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Maderson
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D000931:Antidotes; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005502:Food; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D014867:Water; D019207:beta Carotene
chemical_list: D000931:Antidotes; D019207:beta Carotene; D014867:Water; D002338:Carotenoids; D000082:Acetaminophen