alpha-carotene and Weight-Gain

To investigate whether epileptic patients who become obese after valproic acid (VPA) therapy can have a high risk of atherosclerosis related to the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein, we prospectively studied the plasma concentrations of lipid-soluble antioxidant vitamins in a group of 20 epileptic girls and 20 controls. After 1 year of VPA treatment, epileptic patients who gained weight had decreased plasma concentrations of alpha-tocopherol and alpha- and beta-carotene, the main lipid-soluble antioxidants. Moreover, 5 patients who gained weight were reevaluated 6 months after withdrawal from VPA therapy and showed normal body mass indices and normalized plasma levels of antioxidants. In conclusion, the data suggest that epileptic patients who gain weight after VPA therapy have reduced plasma concentrations of antioxidant vitamins and that these reductions are reversible after VPA withdrawal.

Topics: Adolescent; alpha-Tocopherol; Anticonvulsants; Antioxidants; beta Carotene; Body Weight; Carotenoids; Child; Epilepsy; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Obesity; Prospective Studies; Valproic Acid; Weight Gain

The vitamin A (VA) value of carotenoids from fruits and vegetables is affected by many factors. This study determined the VA value of alpha-carotene isolated from carrots compared with beta-carotene and retinyl acetate supplements fed to Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). Gerbils (n = 38) were fed a VA-free diet for 4 wk. At baseline, 6 gerbils were killed to determine liver VA. Gerbils were divided into 3 treatment groups (n = 9/group) and given 35, 35, or 17.5 nmol retinyl acetate, alpha-carotene or beta-carotene, respectively, in 2 divided doses 5 h apart each day. The remaining 5 gerbils received oil vehicle. Gerbils were killed after 3 wk of supplementation. Serum samples and livers were collected and analyzed for VA. Liver extracts were subsequently saponified to quantify alpha-retinol. Serum retinol concentrations did not differ among the groups. Liver retinyl palmitate concentrations were significantly higher in the retinyl acetate treatment group (0.198 +/- 0.051 micromol/g; P < 0.05) than in all other groups. The alpha- and beta-carotene treatments resulted in similar retinyl palmitate concentrations, i.e., 0.110 +/- 0.026 and 0.109 +/- 0.051 micromol/g, respectively, which did not differ from the concentrations in gerbils killed at baseline (0.123 +/- 0.024 micromol/g). The oil group had significantly less retinyl palmitate (0.061 +/- 0.029 micromol/g; P < 0.05) than all other groups. alpha-Retinol was detected in livers of the alpha-carotene group (0.062 +/- 0.013 micromol/g). Thus, twice the amount of purified alpha-carotene maintained VA status as well as beta-carotene in VA-depleted gerbils. Conversion factors were approximately 5.5 microg alpha-carotene or approximately 2.8 mug beta-carotene to 1 microg retinol.

Topics: Animals; beta Carotene; Carotenoids; Daucus carota; Diet; Diterpenes; Gerbillinae; Kinetics; Liver; Male; Nutritional Status; Retinyl Esters; Vitamin A; Weight Gain

The present study demonstrates a new method to evaluate the bioavailability of carotenoids based on the calculation of the hepatic retinol contents. Weaning male rats of Wistar strain were divided into 5 groups. Each group respectively received retinol acetate (2000-10,000 IU per kg diet), alpha-carotene (2400-6000 micrograms per kg diet), beta-carotene (2400-6000 micrograms per kg diet), mixture of alpha- and beta-carotenes in the ratio of 1:2 (2400 and 4800 micrograms per kg dit), and palm-carotene oil (2400-6000 micrograms per kg diet). The derived retinol equivalences of each carotenoid calculated according to the hepatic retinol contents were almost constant regardless of the volume of respective intake (alpha-carotene: 1.25 micrograms per IU; beta-carotene: 0.59 microgram per IU; mixture of alpha- and beta-carotene in the ratio of 1:2: 0.96 microgram per IU; Palm-carotene oil: 1.23 micrograms per IU). The results suggest that the hepatic retinol contents can be used as a new measure to evaluate the vitamin A bioavailability of carotenoids.

Topics: Animals; beta Carotene; Biological Availability; Carotenoids; Diterpenes; Liver; Male; Palm Oil; Plant Oils; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Retinyl Esters; Therapeutic Equivalency; Vitamin A; Weight Gain