Recenti Prog Med. 2000 Feb; 91(2): 70-1.

[Carotenodermia: an erroneous diagnosis of jaundice]

Pinto F, Mognol D, Garbelotto G, Dannh�user D, Grava G, Sanzuol F.

UnitÃ Operativa di Medicina Generale, Ospedale, Vittorio Veneto.

Carotenoids are essential pigments in vegetal photosynthetic processes, but they also have important biological functions in animal physiology: beta carotene in particular represents provitamin A. The accumulation of carotenoids in a man results in a cutaneous hyperpigmentation very similar to jaundice: usually this happens in vegetarian subjects after an excessive food eating. In the described case, a situation similar to jaundice appeared in a 56 years old man affected by psychic disorders, his diet consisted for several years almost exclusively of eggs (an average of 27 eggs a day). As this type of food is very rich in carotenoids (especially lutein giving to yolk the characteristic colour), it is inevitable that, in addition to hypercholesterolemia, a consistent amount of carotenodermia is present. This recalls the possible antiaterogenal action of carotenoids.