beta-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

Anti-obesity activity has been reported for beta-carotene (BC) supplementation at high doses and metformin (MET). We studied whether BC treatment at a closer to dietary dose and MET treatment at a lower than therapeutic dose are effective in ameliorating unwanted effects of an obesogenic diet and whether their combination is advantageous. Obesity-prone mice were challenged with a high-fat diet (HFD, 45% energy as fat) for 4 weeks while receiving a placebo or being treated orally with BC (3 mg/kg/day), MET (100 mg/kg/day), or their combination (BC+MET); a fifth group received a placebo and was kept on a normal-fat diet (10% energy as fat). HFD-induced increases in body weight gain and inguinal white adipose tissue (WAT) adipocyte size were attenuated maximally or selectively in the BC+MET group, in which a redistribution towards smaller adipocytes was noted. Cumulative energy intake was unaffected, yet results suggested increased systemic energy expenditure and brown adipose tissue activation in the treated groups. Unwanted effects of HFD on glucose control and insulin sensitivity were attenuated in the treated groups, especially BC and BC+MET, in which hepatic lipid content was also decreased. Transcriptional analyses suggested effects on skeletal muscle and WAT metabolism could contribute to better responses to the HFD, especially in the MET and BC+MET groups. The results support the benefits of the BC+MET cotreatment.

Topics: Adipocytes; Adipose Tissue; Adiposity; Animals; beta Carotene; Blood Glucose; Cell Size; Diet, High-Fat; Energy Metabolism; Fatty Acids; Gene Expression Regulation; Insulin; Male; Metformin; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Protective Agents; RNA, Messenger; Weight Gain

Various food patterns have been associated with weight change in adults, but it is unknown which combinations of nutrients may account for such observations. We investigated associations between main nutrient patterns and prospective weight change in adults.. This study includes 235,880 participants, 25-70 years old, recruited between 1992 and 2000 in 10 European countries. Intakes of 23 nutrients were estimated from country-specific validated dietary questionnaires using the harmonized EPIC Nutrient DataBase. Four nutrient patterns, explaining 67 % of the total variance of nutrient intakes, were previously identified from principal component analysis. Body weight was measured at recruitment and self-reported 5 years later. The relationship between nutrient patterns and annual weight change was examined separately for men and women using linear mixed models with random effect according to center controlling for confounders.. Mean weight gain was 460 g/year (SD 950) and 420 g/year (SD 940) for men and women, respectively. The annual differences in weight gain per one SD increase in the pattern scores were as follows: principal component (PC) 1, characterized by nutrients from plant food sources, was inversely associated with weight gain in men (-22 g/year; 95 % CI -33 to -10) and women (-18 g/year; 95 % CI -26 to -11). In contrast, PC4, characterized by protein, vitamin B2, phosphorus, and calcium, was associated with a weight gain of +41 g/year (95 % CI +2 to +80) and +88 g/year (95 % CI +36 to +140) in men and women, respectively. Associations with PC2, a pattern driven by many micro-nutrients, and with PC3, a pattern driven by vitamin D, were less consistent and/or non-significant.. We identified two main nutrient patterns that are associated with moderate but significant long-term differences in weight gain in adults.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Ascorbic Acid; beta Carotene; Calcium, Dietary; Diet; Dietary Fiber; Dietary Proteins; Europe; Female; Folic Acid; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Linear Models; Male; Middle Aged; Nutrition Assessment; Phosphorus, Dietary; Prospective Studies; Riboflavin; Surveys and Questionnaires; Weight Gain

Fucoxanthin (Fx) is a marine carotenoid found in edible brown seaweeds. We previously reported that dietary Fx metabolite into fucoxanthinol (FxOH), attenuates the weight gain of white adipose tissue of diabetic/obese KK-Ay mice. In this study, to evaluate anti-diabetic effects of Fx, we investigated improving the effect of insulin resistance on the diabetic model of KK-Ay mice. Furthermore, preventing the effect of FxOH on low-grade chronic inflammation related to oxidative stress was evaluated on 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells and a RAW264.7 macrophage cell co-culture system. A diet containing 0.1% Fx was fed to diabetic model KK-Ay mice for three weeks, then glucose tolerance was observed. Fx diet significantly improved glucose tolerance compared with the control diet group.  In in vitro studies, FxOH showed suppressed tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) mRNA expression and protein levels in a co-culture of adipocyte and macrophage cells. These findings suggest that Fx ameliorates glucose tolerance in the diabetic model mice. Furthermore, FxOH, a metabolite of Fx, suppresses low-grade chronic inflammation in adipocyte cells.

Topics: 3T3-L1 Cells; Adipocytes; Adipose Tissue, White; Animals; beta Carotene; Blood Glucose; Cell Line; Chemokine CCL2; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Diet; Disease Models, Animal; Inflammation; Insulin Resistance; Macrophages; Mice; Obesity; RNA, Messenger; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Weight Gain; Xanthophylls

We previously described that the intake of pharmacological doses of beta-carotene (BC) resulted in higher body weight gain in the ferret (Mustela putorius furo), an animal model that resembles human subjects in terms of intestinal BC absorption and metabolism. These results were some way unexpected considering the condition of BC as a vitamin A precursor and the previous data in rodents showing these compounds as thermogenic activators. Here, we aimed to characterise in the ferret whether the mentioned changes in body weight could be explained by changes in adipose tissue thermogenic capacity. We studied the effects of 6-month supplementation with BC (0.8 and 3.2 mg/kg per d) on adipose tissue morphology and uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1) content. BC supplementation resulted in higher body weight (the high dose), induced depot- and dose-dependent hypertrophy of white adipocytes, decreased the amount of brown-like multilocular adipocytes in the retroperitoneal depot and decreased UCP1 content in different fat depots. To ascertain whether BC effects could be mediated by retinoic acid (RA), 1 week supplementation with RA (0.25 and 25 mg/kg per d) was also studied. RA treatment resulted in a slight decrease in adiposity, decreased cell lipid accumulation and increased UCP1 content, suggesting that the effects of BC on thermogenic capacity are not through RA. In conclusion, RA, but not BC, may have in the ferret comparable effects with those described in rodents, whereas differences concerning BC and RA treatments may be attributable to the different BC metabolism in the present animal model with a lower conversion of BC to RA compared with rodents.

Topics: Adipose Tissue; Adiposity; Animals; beta Carotene; Dietary Supplements; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Ferrets; Ion Channels; Mitochondrial Proteins; Models, Animal; Thermogenesis; Tretinoin; Uncoupling Protein 1; Weight Gain

Dunaliella carotene, extracted from dunaliella alga (Dunaliella bardawil or Dunaliella salina), for use as a food-coloring agent, has beta-carotene as its mainly constituent. As there have been no reports of toxicological evaluation, a 90-day subchronic toxicity study was here performed in F344 rats at dose levels of 0 (control), 0.63%, 1.25%, 2.5% and 5% in powdered basal diet. The average daily intakes of dunaliella carotene were 352, 696, 1420 and 2750 mg/kg/day, respectively, for males, and 370, 748, 1444 and 2879 mg/kg/day for females. No mortality or treatment-related clinical signs were observed throughout the experimental period in any of the groups. Body weight gain was slightly but significantly (p < 0.05) reduced from week 5 to the end of the experiment in 2.5% and 5% males. Increased PLT were observed in 1.25% and 5% males, and 2.5% and 5% females. Significant elevations or tendencies for increase in serum T. Cho and Ca were observed in all treated males and females, with clear dose-dependence in males. Organ weight measurement and histopathological observation revealed no toxicological changes. Based on growth suppression, no-observed-adverse-effect-levels (NOAELs) were estimated to be 1.25% (696 mg/kg/day) for males and 5% (2879 mg/kg/day) for females. As increases in serum Ca were observed in the lowest group in both sexes, a no-observed-effect level (NOEL) could not be determined in this study.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Animals; beta Carotene; Blood Platelets; Calcium; Chlorophyta; Cholesterol; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Food Coloring Agents; Male; No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level; Plant Extracts; Platelet Count; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Toxicity Tests; Weight Gain

Vitamin A (VA) deficiency is a worldwide public health problem. Biofortifying existing sources of beta-carotene (betaC) and increasing dietary betaC could help combat the issue. Two studies were performed to investigate the relative betaC bioavailability of a betaC supplement to purple, high-betaC orange, and typical orange carrots using Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). In study 1, which used a traditional bioavailability design, gerbils (n 32) received a diet containing orange, purple, or white carrot powder, or white carrot powder +a betaC supplement. In study 2, which included betaC-biofortified carrots, gerbils (n 39) received orange, high-betaC orange, purple, or white carrot powder in their diet. Both studies lasted 21 d and the gerbils were killed to determine the effect of carrot type or supplement on serum and liver betaC, alpha-carotene, and VA concentrations. Liver stores of betaC or VA in the gerbils did not differ between orange and purple carrot diets when equal amounts of betaC from each of the diets were consumed (P>0.05). Both the orange and purple carrot diet resulted in higher liver VA compared with the supplement (P<0.05). High-betaC carrots resulted in more than 2-fold higher betaC and 1.1 times greater VA liver stores compared with typical orange carrots (P<0.05). These results suggest that high-betaC carrots may be an alternative source of VA to typical carrots in areas of VA deficiency. Second, phenolics including anthocyanins and phenolic acids in purple carrot do not interfere with the bioavailability of betaC from purple carrots.

Topics: Animals; beta Carotene; Biological Availability; Carotenoids; Daucus carota; Diet; Eating; Energy Intake; Gerbillinae; Male; Vitamin A; 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

Phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide (PCOOH) levels are increased in the iron-deficient rat liver. We investigated the antioxidative effect of dietary beta-carotene and altered retinol metabolism in iron-deficient rats. Experiment 1: Male Wistar-strain rats were divided into six groups and fed a control diet, an iron-deficient diet, and iron-deficient diets with four different levels of dietary beta-carotene. The PCOOH concentration in the iron-deficient rat liver was decreased by supplementation with dietary beta-carotene. However, the beta-carotene dose response was not related to antioxidative potency. Hepatic and plasma beta-carotene concentrations were increased by iron deficiency. The hepatic retinol concentration was increased while the plasma retinol concentration was decreased in iron-deficient rats. Experiment 2: Male Wistar-strain rats were divided into two groups, with one group receiving a control diet with beta-carotene and the other an iron-deficient diet with beta-carotene. Intestinal iron was decreased and intestinal beta-carotene was unchanged in iron-deficient rats. The intestinal beta-carotene conversion ratio and beta-carotene cleavage enzyme activity were decreased in iron-deficient rats. Dietary beta-carotene played the role of an antioxidant in hepatic lipid peroxidation in the iron-deficient state, but there was no dose dependency. Moreover, intestinal beta-carotene cleavage and hepatic retinol release appear to be altered in iron-deficient rats.

Topics: Anemia, Iron-Deficiency; Animals; Antioxidants; beta Carotene; Diet; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Hemoglobins; Intestinal Mucosa; Iron; Lipid Peroxidation; Liver; Male; Phosphatidylcholines; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Vitamin A; Weight Gain

The present study attempted to examine the antioxidative effect of dietary beta-carotene (BC) on lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were fed on the AIN76 standard diet with or without 0.1% BC. On the 21st day after introduction of these diets, STZ was intraperitoneally injected in half the subjects of both groups. All animals were sacrificed seven days after the STZ injection. Glucose tolerance and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) in the tissues or serum were measured. Body weight gain in the BC + STZ group was significantly higher than that in the STZ group (p < 0.05). Blood glucose and TBARS concentrations of the liver, pancreas, and serum in the BC + STZ group were significantly lower than those in the STZ group. The blood insulin concentration in the BC + STZ group was significantly higher than that in the STZ group. The hepatic and serum beta-carotene concentrations in the BC + STZ group were significantly lower than those in the BC group. Moreover, the synthesis and oxidation of glutathione (GSH) in the BC + STZ group were reduced when compared to the STZ group. These results suggest that the administration of beta-carotene suppresses the elevation of LPO and reduces the symptoms of diabetes mellitus (DM) in the STZ-induced diabetic rats.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; beta Carotene; Blood Glucose; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Glutathione; Insulin; Lipid Peroxidation; Liver; Male; Pancreas; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; Weight Gain

The impact of feeding of dietary palm oil supplements on plasma vitamin A profile was investigated in animals. Four-week-old Wistar albino rats (n = 8 per group) were maintained for 28 days on standard rat food (4.7% fat by weight) supplemented (10%, 20% and 30% by weight) with red palm oil (RPO) and refined palm olein (REFPO). Plasma beta-carotene and vitamin A concentrations of rats fed RPO-based diets were higher than in rats fed REFPO and control diets. Animals fed 30% RPO-containing diets had lower plasma beta-carotene concentrations than those fed 20% RPO-containing diets. The results suggest that consumption of palm oil in moderate amounts enhances growth of tissues and bioavailability of beta-carotene, which may combat vitamin A deficiency in developing countries, in view of the fact that performed vitamin A in animal products (namely meat, liver, eggs and fatty fish) is out of the reach of economically deprived people.

Topics: Animals; beta Carotene; Diet; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; Eating; Energy Intake; Nutrition Assessment; Palm Oil; Plant Oils; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Vitamin A; Weight Gain

The purpose of this study was to investigate if carotenoids could alleviate the adverse effects caused by aflatoxin with respect to growth performance and immune response. In two experiments, a total of 320 mule ducklings were assigned to 5 treatments, i.e. control, aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) 200 ppb, AFB(1) +beta-carotene (BC) 200 ppm, AFB(1)+BC 400 ppm, and AFB(1)+astaxanthin (AS) 200 ppm. In experiment 1, the addition of beta-carotene or astaxanthin in the diet containing AFB(1) 200 ppb resulted in a significant decrease in average daily gain as compared with the control. AFB(1) 200 ppb alone and the addition of BC or AS on top of AFB(1) resulted in a significantly lower daily feed intake than for the control group. There were no significant differences in relative organ weights among treatment groups. Both treatments of BC 400 ppm and AS 200 ppm had significantly more macrophages harvested per duck than the control and AFB(1) 200 ppb treatments. However, there were no significant differences among treatments in percentages of phagocytotic macrophages and number of Candida albican phagocytized by phagocytotic macrophages. In experiment 2, blood biochemical parameters and antibody titers were evaluated. There were no significant differences among treatments in total bilirubin content and alkaline phosphatase activity in the serum or in antibody titers against fowl cholera. However, AFB(1) treatment had the highest activities of AST and ALT in the serum. The addition of BC 400 ppm on top of AFB(1) significantly reduced ALT activity as compared with the AFB(1) 200 ppb treatment. These results suggest that carotenoids could provide a slightly toxic alleviating effect on growth performance, enhance the chemotaxis ability of macrophages, and reduce ALT activity elevated by AFB(1).

Topics: Aflatoxin B1; Alanine Transaminase; Alkaline Phosphatase; Animal Feed; Animals; Antibodies, Bacterial; Antibody Formation; Aspartate Aminotransferases; beta Carotene; Bilirubin; Biomarkers; Candida albicans; Cholera Toxin; Ducks; Energy Intake; Macrophages; Organ Size; Phagocytosis; Reference Values; Weight Gain; Xanthophylls

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

Duplicate groups of Atlantic salmon post-smolts were fed four purified diets supplemented with both vitamin E and the carotenoid astaxanthin (Ax) (+E, +Ax), or supplemented with either vitamin E or Ax (-E, +Ax and +E, -Ax) or deficient in both vitamin E and Ax (-E, -Ax) for 22 wk. There were no effects of diet on growth rate, but an extensive lipoid liver degenerative lesion was observed in 15% of fish fed diets deficient in vitamin E. Tissue vitamin E concentrations varied in accordance with dietary vitamin E in liver, muscle, heart, plasma, brain and eye; levels were reduced to approximately 3% in liver but only to 40% in eye of fish fed diets deficient in vitamin E compared with those fed diets supplemented with vitamin E. An interactive sparing of Ax supplementation on tissue vitamin E concentration was observed, but only in brain. Dietary deficiency of both vitamin E and Ax significantly increased the recovery of desaturated and elongated products of both [1-(14)C] 18:3(n-3) and [1-(14)C] 20:5(n-3) in isolated hepatocytes, suggesting that conversion of fatty acids to their long-chain highly unsaturated products can be stimulated by a deficiency of lipid-soluble antioxidants. The antioxidant synergism of vitamin E and Ax was supported by their ability to reduce malondialdehyde formation in an in vitro stimulation of microsomal lipid peroxidation and to reduce plasma levels of 8-isoprostane. The results of this study suggest that both vitamin E and the carotenoid Ax have antioxidant functions in Atlantic salmon.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Antioxidants; Aquaculture; beta Carotene; Dietary Supplements; Dinoprost; F2-Isoprostanes; Fatty Acids; Oxidation-Reduction; Salmo salar; Vitamin E; Weight Gain; Xanthophylls

Current dietary guidelines recommend a decrease in fat intake and an increase in fiber consumption. Decreased bioavailability (BV) of carotenoids is thought to be associated with both of these recommendations. A 2 x 4 factorial design was used to test the effects of dietary fat level at 10 or 30% of total energy and fiber type using no fiber, silica, citrus pectin or oat gum (7 g/100 g) on beta-carotene (betaC) BV in 4- to 5-wk-old Mongolian gerbils. We assessed BV as both accumulation of betaC and bioconversion of betaC to vitamin A (VA) in tissues. A VA- and betaC-deficient diet was fed for 1 wk followed by one of eight isocaloric, semipurified diets supplemented with carrot powder [ approximately 1 microgram betaC, 0.5 microgram alpha-carotene (alphaC)/kJ diet] for 2 wk (n = 12/group). Increasing dietary fat resulted in higher VA (P: = 0.074) and lower betaC (P: = 0.0001) stores in the liver, suggesting that consumption of high fat diets enhances conversion of betaC to VA. The effect of soluble fiber on hepatic VA storage was dependent on fiber type. Consumption of citrus pectin resulted in lower hepatic VA stores and higher hepatic betaC stores compared with all other groups, suggesting less conversion of betaC to VA. In contrast, consumption of oat gum resulted in hepatic VA and betaC stores that were higher (P = 0.012) and lower (P = 0.022), respectively, than those of citrus pectin-fed gerbils. The level of dietary fat consumed with soluble fiber had no interactive effects on hepatic VA, betaC or alphaC stores. Results demonstrate that betaC BV is independently affected by dietary fat level and type of soluble fiber, and suggest that these dietary components modulate postabsorptive conversion of betaC to VA. This study confirms the negative effects of citrus pectin on betaC BV, and suggests that oat gum does not adversely affect betaC BV.

Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animals; beta Carotene; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Diet; Dietary Fats; Dietary Fiber; Gerbillinae; Liver; Male; Solubility; Vitamin A; Weight Gain

Extraction of beta-carotene from orange peels and its nutritional evaluation through feeding study were carried out to compare the bioavailability of the extractable beta-carotene with that of synthetic beta-carotene. The highest yield of extractable beta-carotene was recovered using a mixture of acetone and hexane (1:1 v/v) as a solvent in a ratio of 15:1 (solvent/sample) and an extraction time of 15 minutes. Growth of rats fed a diet containing beta-carotene extracted from orange peels was normal and their weight gain during feeding period was real. In addition, bioavailability of the extractable beta-carotene was higher than that of synthetic beta-carotene, as a result of the presence of extra oils in the diet that contained beta-carotene extracted from orange peels. Finally, the economical advantage can be reached by extracting beta-carotene from orange peels. The bioavailability of this extractable beta-carotene was high enough to compete with that of commercial synthetic beta-carotene. So, it can be strongly recommended to produce such product in a large scale.

Topics: Animals; beta Carotene; Biological Availability; Citrus; Nutritive Value; Organ Size; Rats; Solvents; Vitamin A; Weight Gain

The ferret has recently been used as a model to evaluate the absorption and metabolism of several carotenoids; however, little is known about the vitamin A (VA) requirements of this species or the ability of ferrets to convert dietary beta-carotene (betaC) to VA. Three studies were conducted to estimate the daily utilization of VA in ferrets and to determine the effect of prior VA status on the ability of ferrets to utilize betaC as a source of VA. Weanling male ferrets were fed a pelleted, low carotenoid, semipurified diet either with (+VA) or without VA (-VA) for 21- to 35-d prefeeding periods. Upon initiation of the experiments, several ferrets were killed to determine base-line VA status. The remaining ferrets were fed VA, betaC, or VA and betaC in pelleted feed (Studies 1-3) or liquid carrier (Study 3) for 16-21 additional days. Hepatic VA and betaC concentrations were used as the primary indicators of VA status, although serum and adrenal VA and betaC also were measured. The results showed the following: 1) provision of betaC at up to a 15:1 weight ratio of betaC to VA in pelleted feed or liquid carrier was not sufficient to maintain hepatic VA stores after a -VA prefeeding period; 2) the daily utilization rate of VA by ferrets ranged from 80 to 171 microg in the three studies; 3) the ferret was confirmed to be a species that has the majority of its serum VA in ester form; and 4) feeding -VA diets significantly reduced serum retinyl esters but had less effect on serum retinol. We conclude that although ferrets can convert betaC to VA, the process is inefficient. The ferret model can be most appropriately used when studying the biological effect of tissue betaC stores on VA status and is less appropriate for the evaluation of dietary betaC conversion to VA.

Topics: Adrenal Glands; Animals; beta Carotene; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Diet; Drug Combinations; Ferrets; Liver; Male; Tissue Distribution; Vitamin A; Weight Gain

We conducted an experiment for 112 d with yearling beef heifers to evaluate the effects of cottonseed meal (CSM) fed with various concentrations of vitamin E on hematological and tissue components. Heifers were assigned randomly to four treatments, with eight heifers per treatment. The treatments consisted of the following dietary supplements: 1) CON, based on soybean meal with 30 IU vitamin E/kg; 2) GOS, based on CSM with 30 IU vitamin E/kg; 3) G+2E, based on CSM with 2,000 IU vitamin E x animal(-1) x d(-1); and 4) G+4E, based on CSM with 4,000 IU vitamin E x animal(-1) x d(-1). Supplements based on CSM provided 4.5 g of free and 50.5 g of total gossypol x animal(-1) x d(-1). The total gossypol present in the supplements was 29.1% of the negative isomer (-) and 70.9% of the positive isomer (+). Blood samples were collected at the start of the experiment and every 2 wk thereafter up to 16 wk. There was a time x treatment interaction (P<.01) for plasma alpha-tocopherol ( alpha-T) concentration; however, feeding gossypol did not decrease plasma alpha-T. Weight gain, retinol palmitate, retinol, beta-carotene (beta-C), hemoglobin, and hematocrit were not affected by treatment. Erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF) increased (P<.05) in gossypol-fed animals; however, vitamin E supplementation lowered EOF (P<.05). Heifers fed the supplements GOS, G+2E, and G+4E had greater (P<.01) plasma (-)-, (+)-, and total gossypol than heifers fed CON from Collection 2 to the end of the experiment. There was a treatment effect (P<.05) on vitamin E and gossypol concentrations in different tissues, with no effect (P>.05) for trace minerals (Cu, Zn, Fe, and Se). Vitamin E concentration in tissue increased with increased dietary supplementation of vitamin E. In heart and neck muscle, (-)-gossypol was greater (P<.05) than (+)-gossypol, but the reverse was true for liver. Gossypol decreased in vitro lipid peroxidation of liver homogenate in tissues. Gossypol deposition in tissue was liver > heart > muscle. In summary, gossypol from CSM did not decrease concentrations of antioxidant vitamins, including alpha-T, vitamin A, and beta-C, or have any detrimental effect on performance of beef heifers.

Topics: Alkaline Phosphatase; Animal Feed; Animals; beta Carotene; Cattle; Cottonseed Oil; Creatine Kinase; Dietary Supplements; Diterpenes; Female; Gossypol; Hematocrit; Hemoglobins; Liver; Myocardium; Neck Muscles; Osmotic Fragility; Random Allocation; Retinoids; Retinyl Esters; Vitamin A; Vitamin E; Weight Gain

Dietary zinc deficiency in rats causes increased osmotic fragility of their erythrocytes. In this study, the influence of supplementary antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E or beta-carotene) on osmotic fragility, oxidative damage and components of the primary defense system of erythrocytes of zinc-deficient rats was investigated. Indicators of hemolysis in vivo were also examined. Five groups of 12 male rats were force-fed a zinc-adequate diet (control rats), a zinc-deficient diet or a zinc-deficient diet enriched with vitamin C, vitamin E or beta-carotene. Compared with the control rats, the rats fed the zinc-deficient diet without supplementary antioxidants had greater red blood cell osmotic fragility, higher concentrations of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and alanine, higher glutathione S-transferase activity, lower concentration of glutathione and activity of glutathione peroxidase as well as lower activity of superoxide dismutase in plasma (P < 0.05). Supplementation with antioxidants generally improved osmotic fragility in zinc-deficient rats without influencing zinc concentration or alkaline phosphatase activity in plasma, indicators of zinc status. At some of the hypotonic saline concentrations tested, vitamin C and beta-carotene significantly affected osmotic fragility. The zinc-deficient rats fed a diet without supplementary antioxidants had significantly higher concentrations of alanine in erythrocytes than the zinc-deficient rats supplemented with vitamin C, vitamin E or beta-carotene and had significantly higher levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in erythrocytes than the rats supplemented with beta-carotene. There was no indication of hemolysis in vivo in rats fed zinc-deficient diets. The results show that supplementary antioxidants decrease osmotic fragility and oxidative damage of erythrocytes in zinc-deficient rats.

Topics: Alanine; Alkaline Phosphatase; Amino Acids; Animals; Ascorbic Acid; beta Carotene; Erythrocytes; Food, Fortified; Glutathione; Glutathione Peroxidase; Hemoglobins; Male; Osmotic Fragility; Oxidants; Oxidation-Reduction; Potassium; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Sulfhydryl Compounds; Superoxide Dismutase; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; Vitamin E; Weight Gain; Zinc

Japanese Black fattening cattle in Miyazaki prefecture, Japan were examined for serum vitamin A (V. A) and vitamin E (V. E) by automatic column-switching high performance liquid chromatography with automated deproteinization. Results indicated that most Japanese Black fattening cattle in Miyazaki prefecture may be provided with V. A supplement and diets including little V. E, moderate beta-carotene and V. A during the early fattening stage, and diets including little beta-carotene, V. A and V. E during the middle and later fattening stages. Therefore, monitoring serum V. A and V. E in Japanese Black fattening cattle throughout the fattening period seems necessary for farmers in Miyazaki prefecture to avoid economic loss attributable to these deficiencies.

Topics: Aging; Animal Feed; Animal Husbandry; Animals; Automation; beta Carotene; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Food, Fortified; Japan; Reference Values; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency; Vitamin E; Vitamin E Deficiency; Weight Gain

The study was designed to assess neonatal immunity of chicks hatched from breeders fed diets supplemented with beta-carotene, canthaxanthin, lutein, or vitamin E. Broiler breeder birds were fed experimental diets consisting of control, 0.04% beta-carotene, 0.04% canthaxanthin, 0.04% lutein, 0.03% alpha-tocopherol acetate, or 0.04% beta-carotene plus 0.03% alpha-tocopherol acetate. Three weeks after initiation of experimental feeding, birds were vaccinated against Newcastle disease virus. Chicks hatched from the eggs of these breeders were used to determine the neonatal immune responses. There were no significant differences in weight gain and antibody titers of 3-wk-old chicks. 3H-Thymidine uptake by bursal lymphocytes when stimulated with tetrahydrofuran was significantly higher for the chicks hatched from breeders fed diets supplemented with vitamin E, or vitamin E plus beta-carotene, than in controls. 3H-Thymidine uptake by splenic lymphocytes when stimulated with concanavalin A and phorbol 12-myristate 13 acetate was significantly higher for the chicks hatched from breeders fed diets supplemented with vitamin E or beta-carotene alone, or vitamin E plus beta-carotene, than for the control chicks. Chicks hatched from hens supplemented with vitamin E had significantly higher antibody titers at 1 and 7 d of age than chicks from the control group. Vitamin E supplementation of breeder birds increased the immune response of their progeny.

Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Antibodies, Viral; Antioxidants; beta Carotene; Canthaxanthin; Carcinogens; Cell Division; Cells, Cultured; Chickens; Concanavalin A; Diet; Female; Furans; Lectins; Lutein; Lymphocytes; Male; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Newcastle disease virus; Pregnancy; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; Thymidine; Tritium; Vitamin E; Weight Gain

Farming of trout requires a finishing diet containing pigments such as astaxanthin and canthaxanthin so that they may achieve a pink tissue coloration similar to that of wild trout. The production of synthetic pigments is not enough so that the requirements of the aquaculture industry are not met, besides having a high cost. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the deposition of saponified and esterified chili (Capsicum annuum) extracts in the skin and muscle of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiis). The experiment consisted of three treatments with the inclusion in the finishing diet of saponified and esterified chili extracts and of astaxanthin, respectively. Each treatment was carried out with 150 organisms with an average weight of a 150 g and done in duplicate. The results showed that both the saponified and esterified chili extracts pigmented the skin and muscle of rainbow trout, although the pigmentation effect was less red than that produced by the astaxanthin control.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Aquaculture; beta Carotene; Capsicum; Carotenoids; Esterification; Muscle, Skeletal; Oncorhynchus mykiss; Pigmentation; Plant Extracts; Plants, Medicinal; Skin; Skin Pigmentation; Weight Gain; Xanthophylls

The availability of beta-carotene from Spirulina as compared to standard all trans beta-carotene was studied by the liver and kidney vitamin A storage method. After 21 days of vitamin A depletion, the rats were repleted with beta-carotene from Spirulina and a standard source at two dietary levels (60 and 120 micrograms/day) for a 10 day period. At lower levels, the liver storage levels of vitamin A and the percent of beta-carotene absorption were comparable to those of the standard. At higher levels both these parameters of the Spirulina fed group were significantly (P < 0.01) inferior to the standard source fed group. However, the Spirulina fed group showed better (P < 0.05) growth than the standard fed group did at both low and high levels of feeding.

Topics: Animals; beta Carotene; Carotenoids; Cyanobacteria; Feces; Germ-Free Life; Intestinal Absorption; Kidney; Liver; Male; Nutritive Value; Organ Size; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Vitamin A; Weight Gain

Experiments were carried out to assess spirulina fusiformis-a blue green algae as a source of vitamin A in rats. In one experiment, the control rats were fed synthetic vitamin A and the experimental rats spirulina as the sole source of vitamin A. The liver vitamin A concentration of spirulina-fed rats of both sexes was found to be significantly higher than that of the control rats. In another experiment the absorption of carotenes from the solvent extract of spirulina and their availability (vitamin A value) as judged by the levels of vitamin A and carotene in plasma and liver were compared with those of synthetic beta-carotene or vitamin A in male rats. The absorption of beta-carotene from spirulina extract tended to be lower than that of crystalline beta-carotene at doses of 550 and 1100 micrograms of beta-carotene. The difference became insignificant at lower beta-carotene dose of 275 micrograms. Spirulina carotene-fed rats did not show a strict dose related increase in the liver or serum vitamin A concentration. The liver vitamin A storage and plasma levels of vitamin A of spirulina carotene-fed rats was much higher than expected. The results of the two studies reported suggest that the algae spirulina can be a valuable source of vitamin A.

Topics: Absorption; Animals; beta Carotene; Biological Availability; Carotenoids; Cyanobacteria; Eating; Feces; Female; Liver; Male; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Vitamin A; Weight Gain