EXPLORE A NUTRIENT
Carotene, alpha
Discover how amounts vary across foods, on a shared basis for comparison.
Understand this nutrient ↓What is it?
Chemical reference: alpha-carotene (C40H56). USDA reports Carotene, alpha separately. [1] [2]
This reference form does not represent every form included in the USDA quantity.
Description, source and attribution
Reference depiction: alpha-carotene. Formula C40H56; PubChem CID 6419725; charge 0. This specified form does not represent every form or molecule included in the USDA quantity.
PubChem Compound 6419725, 2D Structure. NCBI / National Library of Medicine. Source · Reuse terms
Source check:
A COMMON BASIS
Foods, per 100 g
143 foods with data 63 not reported, excluded from ranking
- Butternut squash
Butternut winter squash, baked without salt.
1,130 µg - Paprika
Spices, paprika, exactly as identified by USDA.
595 µg - Mandarin
Raw mandarin/tangerine, edible portion.
101 µg - Tomato
Red ripe tomato, raw, year-round average.
101 µg - Collard greens
Collards, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt, exactly as identified by USDA.
68 µg - Swiss chard
Chard, swiss, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt, exactly as identified by USDA.
45 µg - Starfruit
Carambola, (starfruit), raw, exactly as identified by USDA.
24 µg - Sweet corn
Yellow sweet corn, boiled, drained, without salt.
23 µg - Green peas
Green peas, boiled, drained, without salt.
22 µg - Dried oregano
Dried oregano.
20 µg - Apricot
Apricots, raw, exactly as identified by USDA.
19 µg - Black pepper
Black pepper spice.
12 µg
All results are sorted before pagination. Bars compare amounts within this search; they do not indicate health benefits. Not reported does not mean zero.
UNDERSTAND THE DATA
The nutrient, in context
How to read this ranking
This page compares Carotene, alpha (Carotene, alpha), in µg per 100 g of food.
Chemical forms and measurement methods remain separate. “Not reported” means a value is unavailable, not that the food contains zero. A food’s rank does not determine your individual needs or diagnose a deficiency.
This NIH fact sheet discusses the nutrient family. Carotene, alpha is the specific USDA measurement on this page. Do not apply family intake recommendations directly to this form or unit; use the definitions, population groups, and food/supplement distinctions in the source.
NIH · OFFICE OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS
Vitamin A and Carotenoids: Fact Sheet for Consumers
Original text published by NIH, including intake tables by age and sex, cautions, and the population context the source states. Bitameans has not performed an independent medical review or adapted these recommendations to your personal circumstances.
What are vitamin A and carotenoids and what do they do?
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in many foods. Vitamin A is important for normal vision, the immune system, reproduction, and growth and development. Vitamin A also helps your heart, lungs, and other organs work properly. Carotenoids are pigments that give yellow, orange, and red fruits and vegetables their color. Your body is able to convert some carotenoids into vitamin A.
There are two different sources for vitamin A:
- Preformed vitamin A is found in fish, organ meats (such as liver), dairy products, and eggs.
- Provitamin A carotenoids are turned into vitamin A by your body. They are found in fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based products. The most common provitamin A carotenoid in foods and dietary supplements is beta-carotene.
Identity and structure sources
- PubChem Compound 6419725: Alpha-Carotene · Accessed 2026-09-13
- USDA FoodData Central: Foundation Foods Documentation · Accessed 2026-09-13