[Dietary carotenodermias]. / Caroténodermies diététiques.

ABSTRACT

Four cases of carotenodermia are presented, secondary to marked ingestion of carotenoid-rich vegetables. The first case was a 34 year old woman who presented with yellow palms and soles while on Weight Watchers diet. Loss of weight was accompanied by irregular menses. The second case was a 21 year old woman with orange palms and soles probably due to lycopenemia by tomatoes rich regimen. The third case is a 52 year old woman with the same type of diet as in case 1, associated with high cholesterol level. The fourth case is a 1.5 year old boy with a high intake of commercially available meals ("petits pots"). All the patients were free of disease usually associated with high level of carotenemia. Irregular menses or amenorrhea may be observed in such cases, either due to the rapid weight of loss, or as a manifestation of psychiatric disorder, and anorexia nervosa is possibly encountered. The toxicity of carotenoids is unproven and others substances ingested with high content vegetables diets are possible answerables.