> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.foodconsumer.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Liver Cancer News: Beta-Carotene May Prevent Hepatocellular Carcinoma
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/hepatocellular_carcinoma_0723120735/
- Published: 2012-07-23T20:34:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:01:26.000Z
- Description: In rats with transplanted hepatocellular carcinoma, 30 days of oral beta-carotene at 20, 40 or 60 mg/kg slowed tumour growth, shifted immune and liver blood markers and reduced liver tissue damage, according to a study published in Molecules.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Phytochemicals, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

By David Liu, PHD

Monday July 23, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- Taking beta-carotene supplements or eating foods rich in this nutrient may help prevent hepatocellular carcinoma, a major type of liver cancer, according to a study published July 18, 2012 in Molecules.

The study led by B. Cui of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China and colleagues showed that rats with transplanted hepatocellular carcinoma treated for 30 days with beta-carotene had tumor growth inhibited.

In the study, the researchers tested four levels of beta-carotene in four groups of rats three days after they received liver cancer transplant at doses of 0, 20, 40, and 60 mg/kg.

At 30 days of treatment, rats orally receiving the beta-carotene supplement had slower tumour growth, enhanced blood NK, IL-2, TNF-α, WBC, TP, ALB and A/G levels, and decreased blood ALT, AST and ALP activities, compared to control rats.

Pathological analysis of liver tissue showed the beta-carotene treatment resulted in decreased damage to liver tissue in the rats with hepatocellular carcinoma or liver cancer.

Cui et al. concluded that β-carotene improved the immunity function and inhibited tumour growth in hepatocellular carcinoma rats.

Although the study suggests taking beta-carotene may help cut the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, another thing people with high risk factors such hepatitis B or C can do to reduce their risk for developing liver cancer is not eat dairy products and meat or at last minimize intake of these animal foods, according to Dr. T Colin Campbell, a distinguished nutrition professor at Cornell University.

Dr. Campbell says in his book titled China Study that in India, rich people were more likely to develop liver cancer and Indian researchers found an association between eating dairy products and high risk of liver cancer. Dr. Campbell confirmed in his laboratory that rats eating dairy protein were more susceptible to the toxicity of hepatitis B and aflatoxin, compared to rats eating soy bean protein.

Risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma include hepatitis B and C, and alfatoxin, which is found high in peanuts, corn, and other nuts and grains. Other risk factors include heavy alcohol use, iron storage disease, obesity, and diabetes.

Liver cancer, most commonly hepatocellular carcinoma, is deadly. It is expected that in 2012, 28,720 men and women in the United States will develop liver cancer. The disease is expected to kill 20,550 people in the U.S. in 2012, according to the National Cancer Institute.

β-Carotene is a red-orange pigment found in plants and fruits and possesses provitamin A activity. The phytochemical is used to help prevent breast cancer although no evidence supports diets high in this compound are associated with reduced risk of breast cancer, wikipedia states.