8ĭiet-induced carotenemia can be observed in food faddists and patients who attempt to lose weight by eating predominantly low-calorie foods (such as carrots). In addition, human milk is a rich source of carotene, especially if the maternal serum carotene level is high. 1-3 Carrots and other carrot-rich ingredients are inexpensive and readily available and commonly added to most strained commercial baby foods this might also contribute to the increased incidence of carotenemia in children. 1-3 The concentration of serum carotene is much lower after age 1 year, perhaps consequent to the change in the diet from pureed to table food. Normally, serum carotene levels remain low in infants until solid foods are introduced into the diet, typically around age 6 months, and are highest in infants aged 7 to 12 months. 7 The carotene content shows a seasonal variation with higher levels in the summer.Ĭarotenemia is likely to develop in infants who are fed a homogenized diet of fruit and vegetable baby foods, which are high in carotene, and in children who are habitually fed carotene-rich food. In general, vegetables and fruits that are deeper green or yellow contain the most carotene. 3-5 Foods with high carotene content include carrots, squash, apricots, beans, peas, spinach, sweet potatoes, mangoes, oranges, tomatoes, cantaloupes, papayas, butter, and egg yolks. The yellow color of carotene is often masked by the green color of chlorophyll.
3Ĭarotenes are present in all pigmented vegetables and fruits. 1-4 Children metabolize carotene more slowly than adults, which might account for the increased incidence of carotenemia in children.
Consumption of carotene-rich foods is the most common cause of carotenemia. Awareness of carotenemia is important, so that unnecessary diagnostic procedures can be avoided and parental anxiety can be reduced.Įxcessive dietary intake of carotene. 2 However, it can be associated with diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism and can occasionally be confused with jaundice. Carotenemia is common and benign, and as such it has received little attention in the pediatric literature.
1-3 The child described had been consuming an excessive amount of carrots, sweet potatoes, and peaches in the form of commercial baby food. It usually follows prolonged consumption of carotene-rich food. There was no hepatosplenomegaly.Ĭarotenemia is a clinical condition characterized by yellow pigmentation of the skin and an increased carotene level in the blood. Healthy infant with yellow pigmentation of the cheeks, nasolabial folds, palms, and soles. Her diet consisted of whole milk and a variety of commercial baby foods. Her developmental milestones were normal. There was no history of fever, vomiting, or tea-colored urine. A 13-month-old girl had a yellowish coloring of her skin for the past 4 months.
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