Major interaction on record — check this product against your medications before combining. Based on 1 of 2 ingredients. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Food Carotene 500 mcg Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Solaray

Food Carotene 500 mcg label
See full label image
Softgel Capsule Category: Other Combinations
Most serious interaction: Major
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 16, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Food Carotene 500 mcg against your medications. The heart of this page is the interaction checker and the full interaction report — how this product’s ingredients may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking.

Around that, we add a pharmacist’s high-level view of the product as a whole — what’s inside, the evidence for its stated use, how transparent the label is, and what safety data exists — so you can see the full picture in one place. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases and the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist — not medical advice — and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Major

Food Carotene 500 mcg is a dietary supplement by Solaray with 2 active ingredients. 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 Vitamin A. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

Jump to a section

Check Your Meds Against Food Carotene 500 mcg by Solaray

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Food Carotene 500 mcg by Solaray — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

Pharmacist-reviewed data Checks every ingredient Answer in seconds
Prefer a human? Send your question to our licensed pharmacists — free, answered by email within 24 hours.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Food Carotene 500 mcg by Solaray

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

Generated from HelloPharmacist’s pharmacist-curated databases and editorial rules · Last generated Jul 11, 2026

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 2 of its 2 active ingredients.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This supplement contains two active ingredients: vitamin A and a carotenoid complex. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble nutrient your body uses for vision, immune function, and skin health.

This product delivers 500 mcg of carotenoids per softgel capsule — a modest dose meant to support normal vitamin A status. The remaining ingredients are inactive: olive oil, gelatin, glycerin, beeswax, lecithin, and titanium dioxide, which form and preserve the softgel.

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: Hair and skin health.
  • We looked for evidence on: Acne, Aging skin, Atopic dermatitis (eczema), Nonmelanoma skin cancer, Psoriasis, Wrinkled skin — 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 Wrinkled skin.
  • Also on file: Vitamin A is rated "Possibly Ineffective" for Melanoma.

Vitamin A in this dose is effective for preventing and treating vitamin A deficiency. The evidence suggests it may be helpful for oral leukoplakia, aging skin, measles, ulcerative colitis, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia, though the data is less robust for those uses.

We hold no effectiveness data for the carotenoid complex ingredient.

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 accumulates in your body's fat, so high doses over time can become toxic. The safety data warns against high-dose vitamin A in pregnancy because of birth-defect risk — recommended amounts are fine, but supplement doses above the upper limit should be avoided unless a doctor directs otherwise.

At very high doses, vitamin A can cause headache, liver damage, skin peeling, hair loss, and in rare cases, brain swelling (pseudotumor cerebri) or even more serious effects. This product's 500 mcg dose is modest and should be safe at recommended use.

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.

If you take retinoids (prescription vitamin A derivatives for acne or skin aging), do not add this without checking with your pharmacist first — the combination can cause toxic vitamin A buildup. Also check if you take warfarin (a blood thinner), tetracycline antibiotics, or any medication that stresses your liver.

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 is a straightforward, low-dose vitamin A supplement useful if you're deficient or want general nutritional support. If you take retinoids for skin conditions, blood thinners, tetracycline antibiotics, or drugs that affect your liver, talk to your pharmacist or doctor before starting it — those combinations need checking.

At this dose, it's generally well tolerated.

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

Assessment coverage: 1 of 2 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Sep 25, 2025.

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 Food Carotene 500 mcg, straight from the product label.

Brand Solaray
Barcode (UPC) 076280041118
Net contents 200 Softgel(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Sep 25, 2025
DSLD ID 338529
Product type Other Combinations
Supplement form Softgel Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years)
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 Food Carotene 500 mcg by Solaray, 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)
Servings per container
200
UPC/BARCODE
076280041118
IngredientAmount% DV
Vitamin A500 mcg56%
Carotenoid Complex6 mg--

Other ingredients: Olive Oil, Gelatin, Glycerin, Beeswax, Lecithin, Titanium Dioxide

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.
Brand IP Statement(s)

Solaray Est. 1973 A Brighter Way 1973

Formulation

Plant source Hair & skin health

Formula

Food Carotene with Beta carotene & Carotenoid complex 500 mcg

Discussion: Food Carotene provides plant sourced Beta Carotene, Alpha Carotene, and other carotenoids. These work together to support normal, healthy skin and eyes, and immune system function.

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Seals/Symbols

Lab Verified

General Statements

Since 1973, we've scoured the globe for the highest quality ingredients, connecting you with the most efficacious supplements that help you live brighter & embrace the moments that matter most.

100% PCR Bottles

Precautions

Warning: Do not use if safety seal is broken or missing. Keep your licensed health care practitioner informed when using this product.

Keep out of reach of children.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Directions: Use only as directed. Take 1 softgel daily with a meal or glass of water.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place.

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.

Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.

See for yourself

Food Carotene 500 mcg by Solaray label

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

Food Carotene 500 mcg label

Label images are published by the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database for the version of this product on file. Always read your actual product label.

View the full label (PDF)
What’s inside

The Ingredients in Food Carotene 500 mcg by Solaray

These are the 2 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Softgel(s) Dosage formSoftgel Capsule Servings per container200 Amounts shown are per serving.

Most supplement products combine several ingredients, and a medication can interact with the product through any one of them. Each ingredient below shows whether it has known drug interactions.

Vitamin A

Interacts with
387 drugs
500 mcg per serving Form: Beta-Carotene, Natural

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

Vitamin A monograph & interactions

Carotenoid Complex

6 mg per serving Form: Annatto Oil, Carrot Concentrate, Lemongrass, Spirulina, Yam

Other (inactive) ingredients: Olive Oil, Gelatin, Glycerin, Beeswax, Lecithin, Titanium Dioxide. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Food Carotene 500 mcg by Solaray Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Food Carotene 500 mcg?

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

Vitamin A 387

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in Food Carotene 500 mcg interact with 387 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 2 ingredients in Food Carotene 500 mcg interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. Vitamin A

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Food Carotene 500 mcg 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.

Vitamin A4 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
Vitamin A full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Food Carotene 500 mcg, from the product label.

Solaray

See all Solaray products
Name
Nutraceutical Corp.
Web Address
www.nutraceutical.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Food Carotene 500 mcg by Solaray: Common Questions

Does Food Carotene 500 mcg by Solaray interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Food Carotene 500 mcg 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?
Food Carotene 500 mcg contains 2 active ingredients, and an interaction can come from any of them. We check every ingredient, combine the results into one list per medication, and show which ingredient and mechanism is 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 this safe to take if I'm pregnant?
Recommended vitamin A amounts are considered likely safe in pregnancy, and this product's dose is modest. However, the data also notes that high doses of vitamin A (especially as retinol) carry birth-defect risk. To be sure this dose is right for you personally, talk with your doctor or midwife before starting.
Can I take this long-term without it building up?
Vitamin A is fat-soluble, meaning your body stores it and it can accumulate over time, especially at higher doses. This 500 mcg dose is low, but the safety notes stress that high doses can become toxic with chronic use. Stick to recommended amounts and follow the label.
What does the carotenoid complex do?
Carotenoids are plant compounds that your body can convert to vitamin A. We don't hold specific effectiveness data for this product's carotenoid complex ingredient, so I can't tell you exactly what role it plays in this formulation.
Will this help my dry skin?
Vitamin A is possibly effective for aging skin according to the evidence we hold. If you're dealing with chronic dry skin, though, vitamin A toxicity itself causes dry skin and peeling, so more isn't always better — stick to recommended doses.
Is there anything else in this besides vitamin A and carotenoids?
The softgel contains inactive ingredients: olive oil, gelatin, glycerin, beeswax, lecithin, and titanium dioxide. These are the capsule shell and carrier — they help deliver the active ingredients but don't provide nutritional benefit themselves.
Can I take this with my acne medication?
If your acne medication is a retinoid (like tretinoin, adapalene, or isotretinoin), you should not take this supplement without talking to your prescriber first. Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives, and combining them with a vitamin A supplement can cause dangerously high levels. Check with your pharmacist or doctor.

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

Not sure if Food Carotene 500 mcg is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

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.

Food Carotene 500 mcg label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Food Carotene 500 mcg’s Ingredients

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

Herb & supplement monograph

Vitamin A

Interacts with 387 drugs

Vitamin A is an essential nutrient important for vision, skin, immune function, and growth. Most people get enough from a balanced diet, and supplements are mainly useful for correcting a tr...

Read the full Vitamin A monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Food Carotene 500 mcg'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

Keep exploring
Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Drug–drug interactions › Check two or more of your medications against each other Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements NDC & pricing lookup › Find a drug’s NDCs, packaging and costs Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team