cryptoxanthins and Vitamin-A-Deficiency

Biofortification of staple crops with β-carotene is a strategy to reduce vitamin A deficiency, and several varieties are available in some African countries. β-Cryptoxanthin (BCX)-enhanced maize is currently in field trials. To our knowledge, maize BCX bioavailability has not been assessed in humans. Serum retinol 13C content and xanthophyll concentrations are proposed effectiveness biomarkers for biofortified maize adoption.. We determined the relative difference in BCX and zeaxanthin bioavailability from whole-grain and refined BCX-biofortified maize during chronic feeding compared with white maize and evaluated short-term changes in 13C-abundance in serum retinol.. After a 7-d washout, 9 adults (mean ± SD age: 23.4 ± 2.3 y; 5 men) were provided with muffins made from BCX-enhanced whole-grain orange maize (WGOM), refined orange maize (ROM), or refined white maize (RWM) for 12 d in a randomized, blinded, crossover study followed by a 7-d washout. Blood was drawn on days 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 19. Carotenoid areas under the curve (AUCs) were compared by using a fixed-effects model. 13C-Abundance in serum retinol was determined by using gas chromatography/combustion/isotope-ratio mass spectrometry on days 0, 12, and 19. Vitamin A status was determined by 13C-retinol isotope dilution postintervention.. The serum BCX AUC was significantly higher for WGOM (1.70 ± 0.63 μmol ⋅ L-1 ⋅ d) and ROM (1.66 ± 1.08 μmol ⋅ L-1 ⋅ d) than for RWM (-0.06 ± 0.13 μmol ⋅ L-1 ⋅ d; P < 0.003). A greater increase occurred in serum BCX from WGOM muffins (131%) than from ROM muffins (108%) (P ≤ 0.003). Zeaxanthin AUCs were higher for WGOM (0.94 ± 0.33) and ROM (0.96 ± 0.47) than for RWM (0.05 ± 0.12 μmol ⋅ L-1 ⋅ d; P < 0.003). The intervention did not affect predose serum retinol 13C-abundance. Vitamin A status was within an optimal range (defined as 0.1-0.7 μmol/g liver).. BCX and zeaxanthin were highly bioavailable from BCX-biofortified maize. The adoption of BCX maize could positively affect consumers' BCX and zeaxanthin intakes and associated health benefits. This trial is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02800408.

Topics: Adult; Africa; beta Carotene; Beta-Cryptoxanthin; Biological Availability; Biomarkers; Bread; Carbon Isotopes; Cross-Over Studies; Diet; Feeding Behavior; Female; Food, Fortified; Humans; Liver; Male; Nutritional Status; Provitamins; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency; Whole Grains; Young Adult; Zea mays; Zeaxanthins

The potential of β-cryptoxanthin (CX)-rich foods to form vitamin A (VA) in humans in not well understood.. We measured the effects of consuming CX- and β-carotene (BC)-rich foods on plasma and breast milk VA and carotenoids in lactating women with low VA status.. Participants were randomly assigned to 4 groups (n = 34, 34, 34, and 33, respectively) receiving orange-fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSPs) (12 mg BC/d), tangerines (5.3 mg CX/d), white-fleshed sweet potatoes (WFSPs) with a VA supplement (0.5 mg/d), or WFSPs 2 times/d, 6 d/wk for 3 wk. All except the VA group received placebo capsules identical in appearance to VA supplements. Changes in plasma and breast milk VA, BC, and CX were measured.. Plasma retinol increased in the VA group. Plasma BC in the OFSP group and CX in the tangerine group increased 250% and 830%, respectively; apparent relative absorption in the CX group, considering the amounts consumed, was 4 times that in the BC group. Mean (±SEM) changes in milk VA in the OFSP (0.028 ± 0.074 μmol/L) and tangerine (0.067 ± 0.091 μmol/L) groups did not differ from those in the control (-0.077 ± 0.068 μmol/L) or VA (0.277 ± 0.094 μmol/L) group. Milk CX increased in the tangerine group.. VA capsules increased plasma and milk VA concentrations. The greater change in CX concentrations in the tangerine group than in BC concentrations in the OFSP group suggests that CX in tangerines was better absorbed, but both foods failed to increase milk VA concentrations. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01420406.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Bangladesh; beta Carotene; Carotenoids; Citrus; Cryptoxanthins; Dietary Supplements; Female; Humans; Ipomoea batatas; Lactation; Milk, Human; Nutritional Status; Socioeconomic Factors; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency; Xanthophylls; Young Adult

Topics: Adolescent; beta Carotene; Beta-Cryptoxanthin; Burkina Faso; Carotenoids; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cryptoxanthins; Diet; Energy Intake; Feeding Behavior; Female; Fruit; Humans; Lutein; Male; Nutritional Status; Vegetables; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency; Xanthophylls

Iron deficiency anemia, zinc and vitamin A deficiencies are serious public health problems in Cameroon, as in many developing countries. Local vegetables which are sources of provitamin A carotenoids (PACs) can be used to improve vitamin A intakes. However, traditional meals are often unable to cover zinc and iron needs. The aim of this study was to determine the bioavailability of 3 PACs (α-carotene, β-carotene, and β-cryptoxanthin) in young men, who were fed with a vitamin A-free diet and received iron and zinc supplementation. Twelve healthy participants were divided into three groups and were supplemented with elemental iron (20 mg of iron fumarate), 20 mg of zinc sulfate or iron+zinc (20 mg of iron in the morning and 20 mg of zinc in the evening) for 11 d. They were given a vitamin A- and PAC-free diet from the 6th to the 11th day, followed by a test meal containing 0.55 kg of freshly peeled papaya as a source of PACs. Blood samples were collected four times successively on the 11th day (the test meal day), at T0 (just after the test meal), after 2 h (T2), after 4 h (T4) and after 7 h (T7). Ultracentrifugation was used to isolate serum chylomicrons. Retinol appearance and PAC postprandial concentrations were determined. The supplementation with zinc, iron and iron+zinc influenced the chylomicron appearance of retinol and PACs differently as reflected by retention times and maximum absorption peaks. Iron led to highest retinol levels in the chylomicron. Zinc and iron+zinc supplements were best for optimal intact appearance of α-carotene, β-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin respectively. Supplementation with iron led to the greatest bioavailability of PACs from papaya and its conversion to retinol.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; beta Carotene; Biological Availability; Cameroon; Carica; Carotenoids; Cryptoxanthins; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Healthy Volunteers; Humans; Iron; Male; Postprandial Period; Trace Elements; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency; Vitamins; Young Adult; Zinc; Zinc Sulfate

Mammalian genomes encode two provitamin A-converting enzymes as follows: the β-carotene-15,15'-oxygenase (BCO1) and the β-carotene-9',10'-oxygenase (BCO2). Symmetric cleavage by BCO1 yields retinoids (β-15'-apocarotenoids, C20), whereas eccentric cleavage by BCO2 produces long-chain (>C20) apocarotenoids. Here, we used genetic and biochemical approaches to clarify the contribution of these enzymes to provitamin A metabolism. We subjected wild type, Bco1(-/-), Bco2(-/-), and Bco1(-/-)Bco2(-/-) double knock-out mice to a controlled diet providing β-carotene as the sole source for apocarotenoid production. This study revealed that BCO1 is critical for retinoid homeostasis. Genetic disruption of BCO1 resulted in β-carotene accumulation and vitamin A deficiency accompanied by a BCO2-dependent production of minor amounts of β-apo-10'-carotenol (APO10ol). We found that APO10ol can be esterified and transported by the same proteins as vitamin A but with a lower affinity and slower reaction kinetics. In wild type mice, APO10ol was converted to retinoids by BCO1. We also show that a stepwise cleavage by BCO2 and BCO1 with APO10ol as an intermediate could provide a mechanism to tailor asymmetric carotenoids such as β-cryptoxanthin for vitamin A production. In conclusion, our study provides evidence that mammals employ both carotenoid oxygenases to synthesize retinoids from provitamin A carotenoids.

Topics: Animals; beta Carotene; beta-Carotene 15,15'-Monooxygenase; Carotenoids; Cryptoxanthins; Dioxygenases; Hep G2 Cells; Humans; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency; Xanthophylls

The study was carried out to determine serum retinol and carotenoid of infants and young children in rural areas, and to explore their related dietary factors.. A total of 254 rural healthy infants and young children aged 6-24 month-old were recruited from a program for health examination and feeding survey conducted in villages in Meibu of Linyi of Shandong Province by cluster sampling method. Serum retinol, beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin and lutein + zeaxanthin were detected with HPLC. The frequency of food intake of babies during the past month was inquired from their mothers or baby-sitters. The relationship between serum retinol and carotenoid level with some factors related to feeding pattern was analyzed.. The average serum retinol was (0.96 +/- 0.55) micromol/L with little variation by age (P > 0.05). The prevalence of serum vitamin A deficiency and marginal deficiency were 40.6% and 32.6%. The average serum beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin and lutein + zeaxanthin were (0.056 +/- 0.088) micromol/L, (3.3 +/- 12.1) nmol/L, (27.0 +/- 45.2) nmol/L and (0.22 +/- 0.22) micromol/L, respectively, and no significant difference between age groups on serum beta-carotene, alpha-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin (all were P > 0.05) except lutein + zeaxanthin (P < 0.05). Breast feeding and formula feeding were significant dietary factors influencing serum retinol and carotenoids levels. The frequency of breast-feeding was correlated significantly with serum beta-carotene (P < 0.05). Serum retinol was correlated positively with carotenoids and among carotenoids with each other (all were P < 0.001).. Vitamin A deficiency and marginal deficiency were prevalent in the investigated infants and young children. Serum carotenoid was little variation with age, but was different significantly with dietary patterns fed by breast milk, formula, or fruits and vegetables.

Topics: beta Carotene; Breast Feeding; Carotenoids; Child; China; Cryptoxanthins; Diet; Female; Fruit; Humans; Infant; Infant Welfare; Milk, Human; Rural Population; Vegetables; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency

Fruits and vegetables are rich sources of provitamin A carotenoids. We evaluated the vitamin A (VA) bioefficacy of a whole foods supplement (WFS) and its constituent green vegetables (Study 1) and a variety of fruits with varying ratios of provitamin A carotenoids (Study 2) in VA-depleted Mongolian gerbils (n = 77/study). After feeding a VA-deficient diet for 4 and 6 weeks in Studies 1 and 2, respectively, customized diets, equalized for VA, were fed for 4 and 3 weeks, respectively. Both studies utilized negative and VA-positive control groups. In Study 1, liver VA was highest in the VA group (0.82 +/- 0.16 micromol/liver, P < 0.05), followed by brussels sprouts (0.50 +/- 0.15 micromol/liver), Betanat (beta-carotene from Blakeslea trispora) (0.50 +/- 0.12 micromol/liver) and spinach (0.47 +/- 0.09 micromol/liver) groups, which did not differ from baseline. The WFS (0.44 +/- 0.06 micromol/liver) and kale (0.43 +/- 0.14 micromol/liver) groups had lower liver VA than the baseline group (P < 0.05), but did not differ from the brussels sprouts, Betanat and spinach groups. In Study 2, liver VA was highest in the orange (0.67 +/- 0.18 micromol/liver), papaya (0.67 +/- 0.15 micromol/liver) and VA (0.66 +/- 0.14 micromol/liver) groups, followed by the mango (0.58 +/- 0.09 micromol/liver) and tangerine (0.55 +/- 0.15 micromol/liver) groups. These groups did not differ from baseline. The banana group (0.47 +/- 0.15 micromol/liver) was unable to maintain baseline stores of VA and did not differ from the control (0.46 +/- 0.13 mumol/liver). These fruits (except banana), vegetables and the WFS were able to prevent VA deficiency in Mongolian gerbils and could be an effective part of food-based interventions to support VA nutrition in developing countries and worldwide.

Topics: Animals; beta Carotene; Brassica; Carica; Carotenoids; Citrus; Citrus sinensis; Cryptoxanthins; Fruit; Gerbillinae; Liver; Lutein; Male; Mangifera; Spinacia oleracea; Vegetables; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency; Xanthophylls

Although carotenoids are known to be important dietary sources of vitamin A, there have been few epidemiological studies that have characterized the serum concentrations of major dietary carotenoids among preschool children with vitamin A deficiency. We conducted a population-based, cross-sectional study of serum pro-vitamin A carotenoids (alpha -carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin), non-provitamin A carotenoids (lutein/zeaxanthin, and lycopene), and retinol among 278 children, aged 1-5 y, in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Vitamin A deficiency was defined as serum retinol <0.70 micromol/L. Geometric mean serum concentrations of carotenoids among children with and without vitamin A deficiency were 0.003 vs 0.006 micromol/L for alpha-carotene (P = 0.0017), 0.011 vs 0.023 micromol/L for beta-carotene (P <0.0001), 0.023 vs 0.034 micromol/L for beta-cryptoxanthin (P = 0.0075), 0.007 vs 0.012 micromol/L for lycopene (P = 0.037), 0.044 vs 0.052 micromol/L for lutein/zeaxanthin (P = 0.2), and 0.045 vs 0.074 micromol/L for total provitamin A carotenoids (P <0.0001) respectively. In a multivariate analysis adjusting for sex, age (Odds Ratio [O.R.] 1.44, 95% confidence interval [C.I.] 1.16-1.78), and serum provitamin A carotenoids (O.R. 0.49, 95% C.I. 0.34-0.71) were associated with vitamin A deficiency, but serum non-provitamin A carotenoids were not associated with vitamin A deficiency (O.R. 0.93, 95% C.I. 0.67-1.28). Preschool children with vitamin A deficiency in the Republic of the Marshall Islands have extremely low serum concentrations of provitamin A carotenoids and interventions are needed to improve the dietary intake of provitamin A carotenoids among Marshallese children.

Topics: Antioxidants; beta Carotene; Biomarkers; Carotenoids; Child; Child Welfare; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cryptoxanthins; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant Welfare; Lutein; Lycopene; Male; Micronesia; Multivariate Analysis; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency; Xanthophylls; Zeaxanthins

Cross-sectional interactions by malaria status were investigated between plasma alpha-tocopherol, retinol, and several carotenoids (lutein, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and alpha- and beta-carotene) and indicators of disease severity (blood parasite count, hemoglobin concentration), acute-phase response (plasma albumin and ceruloplasmin concentrations), hepatic involvement (plasma alanine aminotransferase), oxidant status and antioxidant status (plasma thiobarbituric acid-reactive material and ascorbate), nutritional (weight-for-age) and carrier protein [retinol binding protein (RBP)] status, and cholesterol concentration (as a proxy for lipoprotein) in 100 consecutively admitted children with malaria. There were 50 children with severe and 50 with mild malaria and 50 age- and sex-matched control subjects. alpha-Tocopherol, retinol, and all the carotenoid concentrations were lower in the patients than in the control subjects (P < 0.001). The differences were greater in severe than in mild malaria, except for lutein. In severe malaria only, both retinol and alpha-tocopherol correlated with albumin, ceruloplasmin, and RBP concentrations whereas in all three groups retinol correlated with RBP and alpha-tocopherol correlated with cholesterol (all P < 0.01)). Using multivariate analysis on data from all patients combined, cholesterol was the most significant factor explaining the variance in alpha-tocopherol (29%) whereas RBP was responsible for 95% of the variance in retinol. Plasma cholesterol and RBP values in turn (in the absence of alpha-tocopherol and retinol, respectively) were influenced primarily by acute-phase markers (mainly albumin and ceruloplasmin). Alanine aminotransferase (r = -0.17) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive material (r = -0.17) also showed a small contribution to the variance of RBP but 60-70% remained unexplained. In conclusion, low plasma lipid-soluble micronutrient concentrations in malaria are strongly influenced by the reductions in their carrier molecules, which, in turn, are low as a consequence of the acute-phase response.

Topics: beta Carotene; Carotenoids; Child; Child, Preschool; Cholesterol; Cryptoxanthins; Female; Humans; India; Infant; Lycopene; Malaria, Falciparum; Male; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency; Vitamin E; Xanthophylls

Suggestions that carotenoid-containing foods are beneficial in maintaining health have led to several studies of circulating carotenoid concentrations of adults. Because few data are available for children, we report serum carotenoid concentrations of 493 children in Belize. Carotenoid concentrations were determined as part of a survey of vitamin A status of children, most between 65 and 89 mo of age. Reproducibility was tested by collecting a second blood sample 2 wk after the first collection from a subset of children (n = 23) who consumed their habitual diet with no treatment during the interim. Predominant serum carotenoids were lutein/zeaxanthin and beta-carotene, which accounted for 26% and 24% of median total carotenoids, respectively. The three provitamin A carotenoids, alpha- and beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin, constituted 51% of median total carotenoid concentrations. Partial correlations of each carotenoid with fasting retinol concentration indicated that beta-carotene had the highest correlation. Concordance correlation coefficients (rc) for fasting carotenoid concentrations determined 2 wk apart were > or = 0.89 for lycopene, beta-cryptoxanthin, and alpha- and beta-carotene. The rc for lutein/zeaxanthin and total carotenoids was lower, 0.59 and 0.68, respectively, because of higher lutein/zeaxanthin concentrations at the second sampling than at the first. The reproducibility of the concentrations suggests both that individuals have characteristic profiles and that serum carotenoid concentrations can be measured randomly over > or = 2 wk without significant bias.

Topics: Belize; beta Carotene; Carotenoids; Child; Child, Preschool; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cryptoxanthins; Diet; Humans; Lutein; Lycopene; Reproducibility of Results; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency; Xanthophylls

In search of other provitamins A, the metabolism of cryptoxanthin was studied in several species of freshwater fish, i.e. Channa gachua, Labeo boga (retinol-rich) and Heteropneustes fossilis (dehydroretinol-rich). The fish were either allowed to starve for 20-25 d to make their intestines free from carotenoids and vitamin A or kept on a vitamin-A-deficient diet for 140-150 d to deplete the initial reserve of vitamin A in the livers. Retinol-rich freshwater fish such as C. gachua and L. boga converted cryptoxanthin into retinol and no 3-dehydroretinol or 3-hydroxyretinol could be isolated from those fish that received cryptoxanthin. 3-Hydroxyretinol and 3-dehydroretinol were isolated from the vitamin-A-deficient H. fossilis, a 3-dehydroretinol-rich freshwater siluroid, after the administration of cryptoxanthin.

Topics: Animals; beta Carotene; Carotenoids; Cryptoxanthins; Fishes; Intestinal Mucosa; Liver; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency; Xanthophylls