α-Carotene (alpha-carotene) is a form of carotene with a β-ionone ring at one end and an α-ionone ring at the opposite end.

It is the second most common form of carotene.

In American and Chinese adults, the mean concentration of serum α-carotene was 4.71 μg/dL.

[1][2] The following vegetables are rich in alpha-carotene:[1] A 2018 meta-analysis found that both dietary and circulating α-carotene are associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality.

The highest circulating α-carotene category, compared to the lowest, correlated with a 32% reduction in the risk of all-cause mortality, while increased dietary α-carotene intake was linked to a 21% decrease in the risk of all-cause mortality.