Beta Carotene

B-Carotene is an organic compound and classified as a terpenoid. It is a strongly-coloured red-orange pigment abundant in plants and fruits. As a carotene with beta-rings at both ends, it is the most common form of carotene. It is a precursor (inactive form) of vitamin A.
Carotenoids are the primary dietary source of pro-vitamin A, with B-carotene as the most well-known pro-vitamin A carotenoid. Carotenoids are absorbed into the small intestine by passive diffusion. One molecule of B-carotene can be cleaved by a specific intestinal enzyme into two molecules of vitamin A.
Absorption efficiency is estimated to be between 9-22%. The absorption and conversion of carotenoids may depend on the form that the B-carotene is in (cooked vs raw vegetables,in a supplement), intake of fats and oils at the same time,and the current levels of vitamin A and B-carotene