scholarly journals β-Cryptoxanthin from supplements or carotenoid-enhanced maize maintains liver vitamin A in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) better than or equal to β-carotene supplements

2008 ◽  
Vol 100 (4) ◽  
pp. 786-793 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Davis ◽  
Hua Jing ◽  
Julie A. Howe ◽  
Torbert Rocheford ◽  
Sherry A. Tanumihardjo

Maize with enhanced provitamin A carotenoids (biofortified), accomplished through conventional plant breeding, maintains vitamin A (VA) status in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). Two studies in gerbils compared the VA value of β-cryptoxanthin with β-carotene. Study 1 (n 47) examined oil supplements and study 2 (n 46) used maize with enhanced β-cryptoxanthin and β-carotene. After 4 weeks' depletion, seven or six gerbils were killed; remaining gerbils were placed into weight-matched groups of 10. In study 1, daily supplements were cottonseed oil, and 35, 35 or 17·5 nmol VA (retinyl acetate), β-cryptoxanthin or β-carotene, respectively, for 3 weeks. In study 2, one group of gerbils was fed a 50 % biofortified maize diet which contained 2·9 nmol β-cryptoxanthin and 3·2 nmol β-carotene/g feed. Other groups were given equivalent β-carotene or VA supplements based on prior-day intake from the biofortified maize or oil only for 4 weeks. In study 1, liver retinol was higher in the VA (0·74 (sd 0·11) μmol) and β-cryptoxanthin (0·65 (sd 0·10) μmol) groups than in the β-carotene (0·49 (sd 0·13) μmol) and control (0·41 (sd 0·16) μmol) groups (P < 0·05). In study 2, the VA (1·17 (sd 0·19) μmol) and maize (0·71 (sd 0·18) μmol) groups had higher liver retinol than the control (0·42 (sd 0·16) μmol) group (P < 0·05), whereas the β-carotene (0·57 (sd 0·21) μmol) group did not. Bioconversion factors (i.e. 2·74 μg β-cryptoxanthin and 2·4 μg β-carotene equivalents in maize to 1 μg retinol) were lower than the Institute of Medicine values.

2010 ◽  
Vol 103 (11) ◽  
pp. 1594-1601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard A. Ejoh ◽  
Joseph T. Dever ◽  
Jordan P. Mills ◽  
Sherry A. Tanumihardjo

Leafy vegetables are important sources of provitamin A carotenoids. Information on their ability to provide vitamin A is often misleading because of the methodology used to assess bioefficacy. Mongolian gerbils were used to evaluate the bioefficacy of provitamin A carotenoids in tropical leafy vegetables (i.e. Solanum nigrum, Moringa oleifera, Vernonia calvoana and Hibiscus cannabinus) that are indigenous to Africa. Gerbils (n 67) were vitamin A-depleted for 5 weeks. After a baseline kill (n 7), the gerbils were weight-matched and assigned to six treatment groups (n 10; four vegetable groups; negative and positive controls). For 4 weeks, the treatments included 35 nmol vitamin A (theoretical concentrations based on 100 % bioefficacy) in the form of vegetables or retinyl acetate. In addition to their diets, the control and vegetable groups received daily doses of oil, while the vitamin A group received retinyl acetate in oil matched to prior day intake. Serum and livers were analysed for vitamin A using HPLC. Serum retinol concentrations did not differ among groups, but total liver vitamin A of the vitamin A and vegetable groups were higher than that of the negative control group (P < 0·0001). Liver β-carotene 15,15′-monooxygenase-1 expression levels were determined for two vegetable groups and were similar to the positive and negative controls. Conversion factors for the different leafy vegetables were between 1·9 and 2·3 μg β-carotene equivalents to 1 μg retinol. Small quantities of these vegetables maintained vitamin A status in gerbils through efficient bioconversion of β-carotene to retinol.


2006 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 258-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mandy Porter Dosti ◽  
Jordan P. Mills ◽  
Philipp W. Simon ◽  
Sherry A. Tanumihardjo

Vitamin A (VA) deficiency is a worldwide public health problem. Biofortifying existing sources of β-carotene (βC) and increasing dietary βC could help combat the issue. Two studies were performed to investigate the relative βC bioavailability of a βC supplement to purple, high-βC orange, and typical orange carrots using Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). In study 1, which used a traditional bioavailability design, gerbils (n32) received a diet containing orange, purple, or white carrot powder, or white carrot powder +a βC supplement. In study 2, which included βC-biofortified carrots, gerbils (n 39) received orange, high-βC 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 βC, α-carotene, and VA concentrations. Liver stores of βC or VA in the gerbils did not differ between orange and purple carrot diets when equal amounts of βC 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-βC carrots resulted in more than 2-fold higher βC and 1·1 times greater VA liver stores compared with typical orange carrots (P<0·05). These results suggest that high-βC 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 βC from purple carrots.


2009 ◽  
Vol 102 (3) ◽  
pp. 342-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie A. Howe ◽  
Bussie Maziya-Dixon ◽  
Sherry A. Tanumihardjo

Efforts to increase β-carotene in cassava have been successful, but the ability of high-β-carotene cassava to prevent vitamin A deficiency has not been determined. Two studies investigated the bioefficacy of provitamin A in cassava and compared the effects of carotenoid content and variety on vitamin A status in vitamin A-depleted Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). Gerbils were fed a vitamin A-free diet 4 weeks prior to treatment. In Expt 1, treatments (ten gerbils per group) included 45 % high-β-carotene cassava, β-carotene and vitamin A supplements (intake matched to high-β-carotene cassava group), and oil control. In Expt 2, gerbils were fed cassava feeds with 1·8 or 4·3 nmol provitamin A/g prepared with two varieties. Gerbils were killed after 4 weeks. For Expt 1, liver vitamin A was higher (P < 0·05) in the vitamin A (1·45 (sd 0·23) μmol/liver), lower in the control (0·43 (sd 0·10) μmol/liver), but did not differ from the β-carotene group (0·77 (sd 0·12) μmol/liver) when compared with the high-β-carotene cassava group (0·69 (sd 0·20) μmol/liver). The bioconversion factor was 3·7 μg β-carotene to 1 μg retinol (2 mol:1 mol), despite 48 % cis-β-carotene [(Z)-β-carotene] composition in cassava. In Expt 2, cassava feed with 4·3 nmol provitamin A/g maintained vitamin A status. No effect of cassava variety was observed. Serum retinol concentrations did not differ. β-Carotene was detected in livers of gerbils receiving cassava and supplements, but the cis-to-trans ratio in liver differed from intake. Biofortified cassava adequately maintained vitamin A status and was as efficacious as β-carotene supplementation in the gerbil model.


2014 ◽  
Vol 112 (2) ◽  
pp. 162-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kara A. Bresnahan ◽  
Christopher R. Davis ◽  
Sherry A. Tanumihardjo

Provitamin A biofortification of staple crops may decrease the prevalence of vitamin A (VA) deficiency if widely adopted in target countries. To assess the impact of processing methods on the VA value of plant foods, the unique bioefficacies ofcis-βC isomers (formed during cooking) compared with all-trans(at) β-carotene (βC) must be determined. The bioefficacies of 9-cis(9c)- and 13-cis(13c)-βC isomers were compared with those of the at-βC isomer and VA positive (VA+) and negative (VA − ) controls in VA-depleted Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) in two experimental studies (study 1,n56; study 2,n57). A 3- or 4-week depletion period was followed by a 3- or 4-week treatment period in which the groups received oral doses of the 9c-, 13c- or at-βC isomers in cottonseed oil (study 1, 15 nmol/d; study 2, 30 nmol/d). In study 1, the βC isomers did not maintain baseline liver VA stores in all groups (0·69 (sd0·20) μmol/liver) except in the VA+group (0·56 (sd0·10) μmol/liver) (P= 0·0026). The βC groups were similar to the VA+group, but the 9c- and 13c-βC groups did not differ from the VA − group (0·39 (sd0·09) μmol/liver). In study 2, the βC isomers maintained baseline liver VA stores in all the βC groups (0·35 (sd0·13) μmol/liver), and in the VA+group, the VA supplement (0·54 (sd0·19) μmol/liver) exceeded the baseline VA status (0·38 (sd0·15) μmol/liver) (P< 0·0001); however, the 9c-βC group did not differ from the VA − group (0·20 (sd0·07) μmol/liver).In vivoisomerisation of βC was confirmed in both experimental studies. Lower VA bioconversion factor values were obtained for thecis-βC isomers in study 2 when compared with study 1, but higher values were obtained for the at-βC isomer. Dose and VA status clearly affect bioconversion factors. In conclusion, thecis-βC isomers yielded similar liver VA stores to the at-βC isomer in Mongolian gerbils, and liver VA stores of the 9c- and 13c-βC groups did not differ when the doses were provided at physiological levels over time in two studies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 149 (6) ◽  
pp. 951-958 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler J Titcomb ◽  
Mikayla S Kaeppler ◽  
Sofía Beatriz Sandoval Cates ◽  
Jamie M Shannon ◽  
Philipp W Simon ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Background Carrots are an important horticultural crop that contain provitamin A carotenoids (PACs). Orange carrots have high concentrations of α-carotene, which upon central cleavage yields 1 retinal and 1 α-retinal molecule. The leaves of carrot plants are a source of PACs when consumed. Objective Male Mongolian gerbils aged 27–30 d were used to assess the bioefficacy of carrot leaves to maintain vitamin A (VA) status and investigate whether the ratio of α- to β-carotene (α:β-carotene) affected bioefficacy. Methods After 3 wk depletion, baseline gerbils were killed (n = 6) and the remaining gerbils (n = 60) were divided into 6 groups to receive 4 VA-deficient, carrot leaf–fortified feeds (1:1.4, 1:2.5, 1:5.0, and 1:80 α:β-carotene ratio) equalized to 4.8 nmol/g β-carotene equivalents (βCEs), or VA-deficient feed with (VA+) or without (VA−) retinyl acetate supplements. Carrot-leaf powder from 4 carrot plants with differing α:β-carotene ratios was used. After 4 wk, gerbils were killed and tissues were collected and analyzed for retinoids by HPLC. Results VA+ had higher total liver VA (means ± SD 0.91 ± 0.29 μmol) than all other groups (range: 0.40–0.62) (P ≤ 0.03), and the carrot leaf treatments did not differ from baseline (0.55 ± 0.09 μmol). VA− (0.40 ± 0.23 μmol VA/liver) did not differ from the leaf-fed groups, but 30% became VA deficient (defined as <0.1 μmol VA/g liver). α-Retinol accumulated in livers and lungs and was correlated to total α-carotene consumption (R2 = 0.83 and 0.88, respectively; P < 0.0001). Bioefficacy factors ranged from 4.2 to 6.2 μg βCE to 1 μg retinol. Conclusions Carrot leaves maintain VA status and prevent deficiency in gerbils regardless of the α:β-carotene ratio. The bioconversion of PACs from carrot leaves to retinol is similar to what has been reported for other green leafy vegetables, making the consumption of carrot leaves a viable method to improve dietary PAC intake.


2017 ◽  
Vol 242 (15) ◽  
pp. 1508-1514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesse Sheftel ◽  
Bryan M Gannon ◽  
Christopher R Davis ◽  
Sherry A Tanumihardjo

Plants that undergo C4 photosynthesis, such as maize, are enriched in the stable isotope of carbon (13C) compared with other dietary plants and foods. Consumption of maize that has been biofortified to contain elevated levels of provitamin A carotenoids (orange maize) increased the abundance of 13C in serum retinol of Mongolian gerbils. We evaluated this method in humans to determine if it has potential for further use in intervention effectiveness studies. A random subset of samples from a two-month randomized controlled feeding trial of rural three- to five-year old Zambian children were used to determine the impact of orange maize intake on serum carotenoid concentrations ( n = 88) and 13C-natural abundance in serum retinol ( n = 77). Concentrations of β-cryptoxanthin (a xanthophyll provitamin A carotenoid) and the dihydroxy xanthophylls lutein and zeaxanthin, which do not have vitamin A activity, were elevated in children consuming orange maize compared with those consuming a white maize control ( P < 0.001), while β-carotene was not different ( P > 0.3). Furthermore, 13C natural abundance was higher after two months’ intervention in the orange maize group compared with the white maize group ( P = 0.049). Predictions made from equations developed in the aforementioned gerbil study estimated that maize provided 11% (2–21%, 95% confidence interval) of the recent dietary vitamin A to these children. These results demonstrate that orange maize is efficacious at providing retinol to the vitamin A pool in children through provitamin A carotenoids, as monitored by the change in 13C enrichment, which was not reflected in serum β-carotene concentrations. Further effectiveness studies in countries who have adopted orange maize should consider determining differences in retinol 13C-enrichment among target groups in addition to profiling serum xanthophyll carotenoids with specific emphasis on zeaxanthin. Impact statement Maize biofortified with provitamin A carotenoids (orange) has been released in some African markets. Responsive and sensitive methods to evaluate dissemination effectiveness are needed. This study investigated methods to evaluate effectiveness of orange maize consumption using serum from Zambian children fed orange maize for two months. Many varieties of orange maize contain higher amounts of the xanthophyll carotenoids in addition to β-carotene compared with typical varieties. This study uniquely showed higher concentrations of the maize xanthophylls lutein, zeaxanthin, and β-cryptoxanthin in children who consumed orange maize compared with white. Furthermore, maize is a C4 plant and is therefore naturally enriched with 13C. Higher 13C was detected in the serum retinol of the orange maize consumers with no change in serum β-carotene concentration suggesting preferential bioconversion to retinol. The combined analyses of serum zeaxanthin specifically and 13C-natural abundance of retinol could prove useful in effectiveness studies between orange maize adopters and non-adopters.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Miyuki-Johnson ◽  
Baylee Wilhelmson ◽  
Bryan Gannon ◽  
Rob Fanter ◽  
Theresa Pedersen ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives Vitamin A (VA) is an essential micronutrient with key roles in many biological processes, including growth, vision, reproduction, and immunity. While VA deficiency effects these physiological roles, the impact on many metabolic pathways are poorly studied. Since VA deficiency is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world, a more comprehensive understanding of deficiency-associated metabolic alterations is needed. Here we investigate changes in metabolism associated with VA status in a rodent model using targeted metabolomics. Methods Male Mongolian gerbils (n = 8/group) were group housed (2−3/cage) during VA depletion and treatment (2/cage). After 28 d depletion, remaining gerbils were weight-matched and allocated to treatment groups. The VA positive group (VA+) was fed white maize and 40 µg retinyl acetate in ∼50 µL cottonseed oil daily, while the VA deficient group (VA-) received white maize and ∼50 µL cottonseed oil. Liver retinol concentrations were measured by HPLC. Liver samples were analyzed by LC-MS using six targeted assays for primary metabolomics, aminomics, bile acids, oxylipins, endocannabinoids, and sphingoid bases. Results Hepatic retinol concentrations were lower in the VA- group (P < 0.001). Of 277 identified metabolites, the cardiovascular risk associated trimethylamine-N-oxide and, numerous bile acids, including cholic acid, chenodeoxycolic acid, glycocholic acid, and tauroursodeoxycholic acid, were lower in this group (P < 0.05). Components of DNA, including purine deoxyribonucleosides deoxyadenosine (P < 0.02) and deoxyguanosine (P < 0.006), were differentially altered. Furthermore, the VA- group had lower nucleosides cytidine and the uracil derivative carbomoyl-beta-alanine (P < 0.05). Numerous acylcarnitines, vital for energy utilization of fatty acids, were also changed. Conclusions A number of hepatic metabolites were altered by deficiency whose connection to VA status has not been investigated previously. Future studies that test the direct biological impact of these changes with VA status are necessary. Funding Sources USDA Intramural Project 2032-51530-022-00D, NIH U24 DK097154, Cal Poly SURP


2014 ◽  
Vol 84 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 25-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangwen Tang

Humans need vitamin A and obtain essential vitamin A by conversion of plant foods rich in provitamin A and/or absorption of preformed vitamin A from foods of animal origin. The determination of the vitamin A value of plant foods rich in provitamin A is important but has challenges. The aim of this paper is to review the progress over last 80 years following the discovery on the conversion of β-carotene to vitamin A and the various techniques including stable isotope technologies that have been developed to determine vitamin A values of plant provitamin A (mainly β-carotene). These include applications from using radioactive β-carotene and vitamin A, depletion-repletion with vitamin A and β-carotene, and measuring postprandial chylomicron fractions after feeding a β-carotene rich diet, to using stable isotopes as tracers to follow the absorption and conversion of plant food provitamin A carotenoids (mainly β-carotene) in humans. These approaches have greatly promoted our understanding of the absorption and conversion of β-carotene to vitamin A. Stable isotope labeled plant foods are useful for determining the overall bioavailability of provitamin A carotenoids from specific foods. Locally obtained plant foods can provide vitamin A and prevent deficiency of vitamin A, a remaining worldwide concern.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 130-130
Author(s):  
Sumathi Swaminathan ◽  
Sumithra Selvam ◽  
Agnita Narendra ◽  
Tinku Thomas ◽  
Anil Vasudevan ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives Vitamin A requirements in early infancy are met only by breast milk intake. It is critical to ensure adequate breast milk vitamin A levels which also helps develop liver stores. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of a maternal food-based intervention on breast milk vitamin A content Methods Pregnant women (n = 50; 24 ± 1 week of gestation) were recruited for the randomized study. A 10 g of a green leafy vegetable powder (mint/coriander/curry) providing about 3200 μg β-carotene/day, for a period of 4 months up to 1 month of lactation were provided for intervention arm. Breast milk (BM) retinol concentration and BM volume were assessed. BM retinol and beta-carotene were assayed by HPLC and BM fat by creamatocrit method. BM retinol: fat ratio was calculated. The dose-to-mother deuterium dilution technique was used to estimate BM volume through enrichment of saliva measured by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. Total BM retinol content was calculated from BM volume and the BM retinol (including beta-carotene:1 vitamin A RAE = 12 μg β-carotene). Inadequacy of intake was defined as proportion of infants with intake below a requirement of 400 μg RAE/day. Analysis of co-variance was performed after adjusting for age of mother, change in maternal blood retinol from baseline and BM fat, to compare outcomes between intervention and control arm. Results Maternal age, gestational age, socio-demographic characteristics and baseline vitamin A intake were comparable in both arms. Mean BM volume was similar in the 2 arms (676 ± 102 in intervention vs 630 ± 100 ml/day in control). BM retinol content (0.72 ± 0.12 vs 0.64 ± 0.11 μg/mL; P = 0.029) and BM retinol: fat ratio [0.41 (0.31, 0.47) vs 0.29 (0.21, 0.41), P = 0.011] were significantly higher in the intervention arm. The mean total BM retinol content was significantly higher in the intervention (482.2 ± 100.7 vs 406.5 ± 89.2 μg/day; P = 0.015; Cohen's effect size 0.80). Inadequacy of infant vitamin A intake was 14.3% in the intervention arm as against 39.1% in the control arm (P = 0.065). Conclusions The food-based intervention was effective in increasing vitamin A content in breast milk and thereby vitamin A intake in infants. Funding Sources International Atomic Energy Agency.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document