Since the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic viral hepatitis patients with cirrhosis is very high, it is valuable to develop effective methods for its prevention. In the present study, the effect of a carotenoid mixture on hepatocellular carcinoma development was examined. Patients were randomly divided into two groups and treated with a carotenoid mixture in addition to conventional antisymptomatic treatment, or antisymptomatic treatment alone. Cumulative incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma development was periodically analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Significantly lower incidence was observed in the carotenoid-treated group compared with the control group in the analysis at year 4.