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Dietary supplement

Beta Carotene 25,000 IU Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by NOW

Softgel Capsule Category: Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Most serious interaction: Major
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Major

Beta Carotene 25,000 IU is a dietary supplement by NOW with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for eye and vision health, skin health and acne, immune support.Based on those ingredients, 387 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated major. The ingredients most likely to interact are Beta-Carotene. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Beta Carotene 25,000 IU by NOW

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • “Beta-Carotene” is listed as a grouped ingredient — the label gives one combined amount (25,000 IU) without saying how much of each component you get.

This product contains one active ingredient: pro-Vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene, delivering 25,000 IU per softgel. The softgel capsule itself is made with soybean oil as an inactive ingredient.

Beta-carotene is a plant pigment your body can convert to vitamin A as needed — it's one way to get vitamin A without the toxicity risk of taking high-dose retinol (the direct form of vitamin A) directly.

Does it work?

Moderate evidence
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports this product's ingredients for its stated purpose, but it isn't conclusive.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: Vitamin A nutrition and eye health.
  • We looked for evidence on: Acne, Aging skin, Atopic dermatitis (eczema), Cataracts, Child development, Corneal abrasion — and 4 related terms.
  • The strongest evidence on file: Vitamin A is rated "Possibly Effective" for Aging skin (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Vitamin A is rated "Possibly Effective" for Night vision.
  • Also on file: Vitamin A is rated "Possibly Ineffective" for Melanoma.

Vitamin A is effective for preventing and treating vitamin A deficiency. It's possibly effective for oral leukoplakia (white patches inside the mouth), aging skin, measles, ulcerative colitis, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (a lung condition in premature infants).

The evidence for those other uses isn't as solid as it is for deficiency, so talk with your doctor about whether this dose and form makes sense for what you're trying to do.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Vitamin A

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Vitamin A is generally well tolerated at recommended doses, but it does build up in your body over time, so high doses can become toxic. At very high doses, it can cause headache, liver damage, and in rare cases serious effects like increased pressure in the skull or coma.

The safety data shows vitamin A at recommended amounts is appropriate in pregnancy and while breastfeeding, but high-dose supplements — especially retinol — can cause birth defects and should be avoided. If you're pregnant or nursing, keep your intake at recommended levels and talk with your doctor about whether a supplement fits your situation.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Vitamin A

Meds to double-check

Major interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Major identified

At least one ingredient has a documented Major-severity interaction. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Vitamin A.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Major.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs.
  • For scale: 388 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before you start, double-check with your pharmacist or doctor if you take retinoids (like isotretinoin or tretinoin) — that's a Major interaction. Also flag blood thinners (especially warfarin), any hepatotoxic or liver-damaging medications, and tetracycline antibiotics, which have Moderate interactions with high-dose vitamin A.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with some supporting evidence for its stated purpose. Major medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

This product is a straightforward way to get vitamin A if you're deficient or want to support skin health or other conditions where vitamin A plays a role. If you take retinoid medications, blood thinners, liver-toxic drugs, or tetracycline antibiotics, check with your doctor or pharmacist before adding it — the interactions matter.

At the dose in this bottle, vitamin A is well tolerated for most people who aren't at risk for toxicity.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Oct 1, 2012.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Beta Carotene 25,000 IU, straight from the product label.

Brand NOW
Barcode (UPC) 733739003126
Net contents 250 Softgel(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Oct 1, 2012
DSLD ID 13752
Product type Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Supplement form Softgel Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Sugar Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Beta Carotene 25,000 IU by NOW, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Softgel(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Softgel(s)
UPC/BARCODE
733739003126
IngredientAmount% DV
Beta-Carotene25000 IU500%
pro-Vitamin A15 mg--

Other ingredients: Soybean Oil, Softgel Capsule

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Formulation

Contains no sugar, salt, starch, yeast, wheat, gluten, corn, milk, egg, shellfish or preservatives.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place.

General Statements

Please Recycle.

ESSENTIAL NUTRITION

• Converted to Vitamin A in Body*

Beta Carotene is converted into Vitamin A in the body. It performs antioxidant functions which regular Vitamin A does not. Beta Carotene and Vitamin A are essential for the maintenance of healthy epithelial tissue, which is found in the eyes, skin, respiratory system, GI and urinary tracts.*

ACTUAL SIZE

Made in the U.S.A.

FDA Statement of Identity

A Dietary Supplement

Seals/Symbols

GMP QUALITY ASSURED

FDA Disclaimer Statement

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

SUGGESTED USAGE: As a dietary supplement, take 1 softgel 1 to 2 times daily, preferably with meals. Consider taking this product in combination with NOW(R) Tru-E BioComplex(TM), Alpha Lipoic Acid and Vitamin D.

General

CODE 0312 V2

See for yourself

Beta Carotene 25,000 IU by NOW label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Beta Carotene 25,000 IU by NOW

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Softgel(s) Dosage formSoftgel Capsule Amounts shown are per serving.

Beta-Carotene

Interacts with
387 drugs
25000 IU per serving

Vitamin A is an essential nutrient important for vision, skin, immune function, and growth. Most people get enough from a balanced diet, and supplemen...

Beta-Carotene monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Soybean Oil, Softgel Capsule. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Beta Carotene 25,000 IU by NOW Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Beta Carotene 25,000 IU?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
387Drugs
9 Major 378 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Beta Carotene 25,000 IU with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Beta-Carotene4 drug types · 387 drugs

Retinoids

Concomitant use of retinoids with vitamin A supplements might produce supratherapeutic vitamin A levels.
Retinoids, which are vitamin A derivatives, could have additive toxic effects when taken with vitamin A supplements.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Hepatotoxic Drugs

Theoretically, taking high doses of vitamin A in combination with other potentially hepatotoxic drugs might increase the risk of liver disease.
The tolerable upper intake level (UL) is the highest level of intake that is likely to pose no risk of adverse effects. Doses of vitamin A above the UL can cause hepatotoxicity, ranging from elevated liver enzymes to liver failure.

Likelihood Possible Evidence C
Tetracycline Antibiotics

Theoretically, taking tetracycline antibiotics with high doses of vitamin A can increase the risk of pseudotumor cerebri.
Benign intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri) can occur with tetracyclines and with acute or chronic vitamin A toxicity. Case reports suggest that taking tetracyclines and vitamin A concurrently can increase the risk of this condition. Avoid high doses of vitamin A in people taking tetracyclines chronically.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Warfarin (Coumadin)

Theoretically, high doses of vitamin A could increase the risk of bleeding with warfarin.
Vitamin A toxicity is associated with hemorrhage and hypoprothrombinemia, possibly due to vitamin K antagonism. Advise patients taking warfarin to avoid doses of vitamin A above the tolerable upper intake level of 10,000 IU/day for adults.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Beta Carotene 25,000 IU, from the product label.

NOW

See all NOW products
Name
NOW FOODS
City
BLOOMINGDALE
State
IL
ZipCode
60108
Web Address
www.nowfoods.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Beta Carotene 25,000 IU by NOW: Common Questions

Does Beta Carotene 25,000 IU by NOW interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Beta Carotene 25,000 IU has a known interaction with 387 medications, including 9 rated major. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Beta Carotene 25,000 IU contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Is 25,000 IU a high dose?
It's above the tolerable upper limit for adults (10,000 IU/day), so it's not a trivial amount — it's the kind of dose that requires you to pay attention to other sources of vitamin A and any medications you're on. That said, a single dose in this range isn't immediately dangerous for most adults; the toxicity risk builds with chronic use or when combined with certain drugs.
What's the difference between beta-carotene and retinol vitamin A?
Beta-carotene is a plant pigment your body converts to vitamin A as it needs it, so there's less risk of overdoing it. Retinol is vitamin A in its direct form — your body absorbs it straight away and can accumulate it more easily, which is why retinol supplements carry a higher toxicity risk at high doses.
Can I take this if I'm pregnant?
The safety data shows vitamin A at recommended amounts is appropriate during pregnancy, but high-dose supplements can cause birth defects. At 25,000 IU, you're above the recommended daily amount, so talk with your doctor about whether this dose is right for you.
Will this help my acne or aging skin?
Vitamin A is possibly effective for aging skin based on the evidence we have, but the research isn't as strong as it is for treating deficiency. Your doctor or dermatologist can advise whether this supplement or a prescription retinoid is the right fit for your skin.
What are the side effects?
At recommended doses, vitamin A is generally well tolerated. High doses can cause dry skin, rashes, brittle nails, hair loss, and fatigue — signs your body has too much. In very high amounts, it can damage your liver or increase pressure in your skull. Stick to the label dose and don't combine it with other vitamin A sources without checking first.
Is this product soy-free?
No — the softgel is made with soybean oil, so it's not suitable if you have a soy allergy.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Beta Carotene 25,000 IU is safe with your meds?

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Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Beta Carotene 25,000 IU label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Beta Carotene 25,000 IU’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Beta Carotene 25,000 IU's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 31 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Vitamin A 31 references
  1. McEvoy GK, ed. AHFS Drug Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 1998.
  2. Griffiths JK. The vitamin A paradox. J Pediatr 2000;137:604-7.. PubMed
  3. Hardman JG, Limbird LL, Molinoff PB, eds. Goodman and Gillman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 9th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 1996.
  4. Hansten PD, Horn JR. Drug Interactions Analysis and Management. Vancouver, WA: Applied Therapeutics Inc., 1997 and updates.
  5. FDA Talk Paper. Vitamin A and birth defects (T95-56). Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, MD. October 6, 1995.
  6. Russell RM. The vitamin A spectrum: from deficiency to toxicity. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;71:878-84. PubMed
  7. Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2002.
  8. Feskanich D, Singh V, Willett WC, Colditz GA. Vitamin A intake and hip fractures among postmenopausal women. JAMA 2002;287:47-54. PubMed
  9. Melhus H, Michaelsson K, Kindmark A, et al. Excessive dietary intake of vitamin A is associated with reduced bone mineral density and increased risk for hip fracture. Ann Intern Med 1998;129:770-8. PubMed
  10. Michaelsson K, Lithell H, Vessby B, Melhus H. Serum retinol levels and the risk of fracture. N Engl J Med 2003;348:287-94.. PubMed
  11. Botterweck AA, van den Brandt PA, Goldbohm RA. Vitamins, carotenoids, dietary fiber, and the risk of gastric carcinoma: results from a prospective study after 6.3 years of follow-up. Cancer 2000;88:737-48.. DOI
  12. Meyskens FL Jr, Graham V, Chvapil M, et al. A phase I trial of beta-all-trans-retinoic acid delivered via a collagen sponge and a cervical cap for mild or moderate intraepithelial cervical neoplasia. J Natl Cancer Inst 1983;71:921-5..
  13. Hathcock JN, Hattan DG, Jenkins MY, et al. Evaluation of vitamin A toxicity. Am J Clin Nutr 1990;52:183-202.. PubMed
  14. Walters BN, Gubbay SS. Tetracycline and benign intracranial hypertension: report of five cases. Br Med J 1981;282:19-20.. PubMed
  15. Pearson MG, Littlewood SM, Bowden AN. Tetracycline and benign intracranial hypertension (letter). Br Med J 1981;282:568-9.. PubMed
  16. Azais-Braesco V, Pascal G. Vitamin A in pregnancy: requirements and safety limits. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;71:1325S-33S. PubMed
  17. Smedts HP, de Vries JH, Rakhshandehroo M, et al. High maternal vitamin E intake by diet or supplements is associated with congenital heart defects in the offspring. BJOG 2009;116:416-23. PubMed
  18. Grotto, I., Mimouni, M., Gdalevich, M., and Mimouni, D. Vitamin A supplementation and childhood morbidity from diarrhea and respiratory infections: a meta-analysis. J Pediatr 2003;142(3):297-304. PubMed
  19. Mahalanabis, D., Lahiri, M., Paul, D., Gupta, S., Gupta, A., Wahed, M. A., and Khaled, M. A. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of the efficacy of treatment with zinc or vitamin A in infants and young children with severe acute l
  20. Long, K. Z., Montoya, Y., Hertzmark, E., Santos, J. I., and Rosado, J. L. A double-blind, randomized, clinical trial of the effect of vitamin A and zinc supplementation on diarrheal disease and respiratory tract infections in children in Mexico City, Mex
  21. Fritz, H., Kennedy, D., Fergusson, D., Fernandes, R., Doucette, S., Cooley, K., Seely, A., Sagar, S., Wong, R., and Seely, D. Vitamin A and retinoid derivatives for lung cancer: a systematic review and meta analysis. PLoS.One. 2011;6(6):e21107. PubMed
  22. Mayo-Wilson, E., Imdad, A., Herzer, K., Yakoob, M. Y., and Bhutta, Z. A. Vitamin A supplements for preventing mortality, illness, and blindness in children aged under 5: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2011;343:d5094. PubMed
  23. Mazumder S, Taneja S, Bhatia K, Yoshida S, Kaur J, Dube B, Toteja GS, Bahl R, Fontaine O, Martines J, Bhandari N; Neovita India Study Group. Efficacy of early neonatal supplementation with vitamin A to reduce mortality in infancy in Haryana, India (Neovit
  24. Baineni R, Gulati R, Delhi CK. Vitamin A toxicity presenting as bone pain. Arch Dis Child. 2017;102(6):556-8. PubMed
  25. Darlow BA, Graham PJ, Rojas-Reyes MX. Vitamin A supplementation to prevent mortality and short- and long-term morbidity in very low birth weight infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;(8):CD000501. PubMed
  26. Haider BA, Sharma R, Bhutta ZA. Neonatal vitamin A supplementation for the prevention of mortality and morbidity in term neonates in low and middle income countries. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;2:CD006980. PubMed
  27. Mohammad YM, Raslan IR, Al-Hussain FA. Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Induced by Topical Application of Vitamin A. J Neuroophthalmol. 2016;36(4):412-3. PubMed
  28. Masnadi Shirazi K, Nikniaz Z, Masnadi Shirazi A, Rohani M. Vitamin A supplementation decreases disease activity index in patients with ulcerative colitis: A randomized controlled clinical trial. Complement Ther Med. 2018 Dec;41:215-219. PubMed
  29. Ding Y, Hu P, Yang Y, et al. Impact of maternal daily oral low-dose vitamin A supplementation on the mother-infant pair: a randomised placebo-controlled trial in China. Nutrients 2021;13(7):2370. PubMed
  30. Knapik JJ, Hoedebecke SS. Vitamin A and bone fractures: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Spec Oper Med 2021;21(2):100-7. PubMed
  31. Imdad A, Mayo-Wilson E, Haykal MR, et al. Vitamin A supplementation for preventing morbidity and mortality in children from six months to five years of age. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2022;3(3):CD008524. PubMed

See these in context on the Vitamin A monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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