Effects of nutritional status on carotene uptake and bioconversion

Impact of Crude Palm Oil Fortified Cookies Supplementation on Anthropometry, Vitamin A and Hematological Status of School Children in India

Abstract. Objectives: Food-based strategies remain the most sustainable solutions for combating micronutrient deficiencies. Crude palm oil being the richest natural source of β-carotene, the study aimed to assess the impact of crude palm oil fortified cookies supplementation on anthropometry, vitamin A and hematological status of school children.

Methods: 444 children (boys-226, girls-218), aged 5-13 years from two Municipal Corporation of Delhi primary schools were enrolled. By draw of lot, children from one of the schools formed the experimental (n = 224; boys-119, girls-105) while other formed the placebo group (n = 220; boys-107; girls-113). Children from the experimental group received six crude palm oil fortified cookies providing 2152 μg of β-carotene while the placebo group received similar but non-fortified cookies each day for 50 school days. Anthropometry, vitamin A, and hematological status were assessed at baseline and post supplementation.

Results: Post supplementation, the number of stunted subjects reduced significantly (p < 0.05) in the experimental group. There was a significant increase in plasma retinol (170.9%; mean change: 1.55 ± 1.30 μmol/L - experimental group vs. 0.45 ± 0.99 μmol/L - placebo group) and β-carotene (p < 0.01; median change from 0.55 to 0.76 μmol/L - experimental group vs. 0.59 to 0.55 μmol/L -placebo group) concentrations of the experimental group. The increase in hematological parameters (mean change in Hemoglobin: 1.64 g/dL in experimental group vs. 2.10 g/dL in placebo group) of both the groups were however, comparable.

Conclusion: To address micronutrient deficiencies particularly in developing nations, the use of crude palm oil should be encouraged through supplementary feeding programs by way of ready-to-eat snacks.

Integument colouration in relation to persistent organic pollutants and body condition in arctic breeding black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla)

Vertebrates cannot synthetize carotenoids de novo but have to acquire them through their diet. In birds, carotenoids are responsible for the yellow to red colouration of many secondary sexual traits. They are also involved in physiological functions such as immunostimulation and immunoregulation. Consequently, carotenoid-based colouration is very often considered as a reliable signal for health and foraging abilities. Although a few studies have suggested that carotenoid-based coloured traits could be sensitive to environmental pollution such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) contamination, the relationships between pollutants and colouration remain unclear. Here, we examined the relationships between the colouration of carotenoid-based integuments and individual POP levels in pre-laying female black-legged kittiwakes from very high latitudes. In this area, these arctic seabirds are exposed to high POPs contamination. Additionally, we investigated the relationships between colouration and body condition, a frequently used index of individual quality. We found a negative relationship between POP levels and several components of integument colouration: saturation of eye-ring, gapes and tongue, suggesting that POPs could disrupt colouration of labile integuments in female kittiwakes. In addition, we found that females in better body condition displayed more orange and brighter gapes and tongue than females in poor body condition. These results demonstrate that hue and brightness are sensitive to the current health and nutritional status of female kittiwakes. Overall, our study shows that carotenoid-based colour integuments can be affected by several environmental-driven variables.

Sublethal effects on seabirds after the Prestige oil-spill are mirrored in sexual signals

It has been suggested that sexual signals may be a useful measure of environmental quality as they represent the sum of environmental pressures on the animal. Accordingly, it has been proposed that carotenoid-based coloration may be especially valuable in monitoring and detecting the sublethal effects of toxic pollutants in the environment. Here, we evaluate whether the carotenoid-based coloration in the bill of adult yellow-legged gulls reflects oil-induced sublethal effects in breeding colonies affected by the Prestige oil spill. In 2004, we took blood samples from 27 adult birds at four insular breeding colonies located in the pathway of the Prestige oil spill. We measured the size of the red bill spot area and analysed plasma biochemical parameters indicative of sublethal effects of oil contamination in gulls, including glucose, total protein, creatinine, inorganic phosphorus, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyl transferase. We showed that the size of their red bill spot area was positively related to body condition, while negatively related with AST levels, an enzyme that is commonly used as an indication of hepatic damage in birds. Hence, the present study provides support for the idea that carotenoid-based colour integuments may be a useful measure of environmental quality.

Pigment-based skin colour in the blue-footed booby: an honest signal of current condition used by females to adjust reproductive investment

In monogamous species, the value of present reproduction is affected by the current condition of the mate, and females may use male ornaments to evaluate his condition and adjust their level of investment according. Many animals display colour in fleshy structures which may be accurate indicators of quality due to their potentially rapid response to changes in condition. Here we show that in the blue-footed booby, Sula nebouxii, male foot colour is structurally (collagen arrays) and pigment based. In 48 h foot colour became duller when males were food deprived and brighter when they were re-fed with fresh fish. Variation of dietary carotenoids induced comparable changes in cell-mediated immune function and foot colour, suggesting that carotenoid-pigmentation reveals the immunological state of individuals. These results suggest that pigment-based foot colour is a rapid honest signal of current condition. In a second experiment, we found that rapid variation in male foot colour caused parallel variation in female reproductive investment. One day after the first egg was laid we captured the males and modified the foot colour of experimental males with a non-toxic and water resistant duller blue intensive make-up, mimicking males in low condition. Females decreased the size of their second eggs, relative to the second egg of control females, when the feet of their mates were experimentally duller. Since brood reduction in this species is related to size differences between brood mates at hatching, by laying lighter second eggs females are facilitating brood reduction. Our data indicate that blue-footed booby females are continuously evaluating their mates and can perform rapid adjustments of reproductive investment by using dynamic sexual traits. We suggest that this fine-tuned adjustment may be widespread in socially monogamous animals.

Phytochemical Research Using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry

Vegetables and fruits provide an array of microchemicals in the form of vitamins and secondary metabolites (phytochemicals) that may lower the risk of chronic disease. Tracing these phytochemicals at physiologic concentrations has been hindered by a lack of quantitative sensitivity for chemically equivalent tracers that could be used safely in healthy people. Accelerator mass spectrometry is a relatively new technique that provides the necessary sensitivity (in attomoles) and measurement precision (<3%) towards 14C-labeled phytochemicals for detailed kinetic studies in humans at dietary levels.

Absorption and retinol equivalence of beta-carotene in humans is influenced by dietary vitamin A intake

The effect of vitamin A supplements on metabolic behavior of an oral tracer dose of [14C]beta-carotene was investigated in a longitudinal test-retest design in two adults. For the test, each subject ingested 1 nmol of [14C]beta-carotene (100 nCi) in an emulsified olive oil-banana drink. Total urine and stool were collected for up to 30 days; concentration-time patterns of [14C]beta-carotene, [14C]retinyl esters, and [14C]retinol were determined for 46 days. On Day 53, the subjects were placed on a daily vitamin A supplement (10000 IU/day), and a second dose of [14C]beta-carotene (retest) was given on Day 74. All 14C determinations were made using accelerator mass spectrometry. In both subjects, the vitamin A supplementation was associated with three main effects: 1). increased apparent absorption: test versus retest values rose from 57% to 74% (Subject 1) and from 52% to 75% (Subject 2); 2). an approximately 10-fold reduction in urinary excretion; and 3). a lower ratio of labeled retinyl ester/beta-carotene concentrations in the absorptive phase. The molar vitamin A value of the dose for the test was 0.62 mol (Subject 1) and 0.54 mol (Subject 2) vitamin A to 1 mol beta-carotene. Respective values for the retest were 0.85 and 0.74. These results show that while less cleavage of beta-carotene occurred due to vitamin A supplementation, higher absorption resulted in larger molar vitamin A values.

Analysis of lipophilic antioxidants in human serum and tissues: tocopherols and carotenoids

Tocopherols and carotenoids are naturally occurring lipophilic micronutrients, suggested to play a role in the prevention of several degenerative diseases. Thus, methods for the quantification of these nutrients in human samples have been developed during recent years. Blood and tissue levels of tocopherols and carotenoids are influenced by a variety of parameters related to disease, age, diet and lifestyle. This review summarizes general aspects of chromatographic analysis of tocopherols and carotenoids in human samples and deals with information on the outcome of human studies, in which such measurements were applied.

Bioconversion of plant carotenoids to vitamin A in Filipino school-aged children varies inversely with vitamin A status

BACKGROUND

It is important to understand the factors affecting strategies to improve the vitamin A status of populations. We reported previously that a 3-d deuterated-retinol-dilution (DRD) procedure might be used to indicate total body stores of vitamin A.

OBJECTIVE

We studied the ability of 3-d DRD to detect changes in the body pool size of vitamin A and the effect of vitamin A status on the bioconversion of plant carotenoids to vitamin A.

DESIGN

Two separate, unrelated studies were conducted in 7-13-y-old children with poor or marginal serum retinol concentrations (0.32-0.93 micromol/L) by feeding them controlled diets daily for 5 d/wk for 12 wk, after treatment with an anthelmintic drug. In school 1 (n = 27), lunch and 2 snacks that were provided at school contained 2258 retinol equivalents/d (mostly from orange fruit and vegetables) and 5.3 MJ/d from 33 g fat, 37 g protein, and 209 g carbohydrates; in school 2 (n = 25), 2 snacks provided 2.5 MJ/d from 9.4 g fat, 9.6 g protein, and 119 g carbohydrates, but no carotenes.

RESULTS

In school 1, mean serum beta-carotene increased from 0.12 to 0.62 micromol/L (P = 0.0001) and serum retinol increased from 0.68 to 1. 06 micromol/L (P = 0.0001). In school 2, serum beta-carotene increased from 0.06 to 0.11 micromol/L (P = 0.0001) and serum retinol increased from 0.66 to 0.86 micromol/L (P = 0.0001). In school 1, but not school 2, improvement in serum retinol varied inversely with baseline retinol (r = -0.38, P = 0.048). In both schools, 3-d DRD showed reductions in the ratio of serum deuterated to nondeuterated retinol (D:H retinol) postintervention, denoting improvements in vitamin A status; the higher D:H retinol (ie, the poorer the status) at baseline, the greater the reduction in D:H retinol postintervention (school 1: r = -0.99, P = 0.0001; school 2: r = -0.89, P = 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Three-day DRD can detect changes in the body pool size of vitamin A, although a predictive equation to quantitate total body stores of vitamin A with the use of 3-d data needs to be developed. Bioconversion of plant carotenoids to vitamin A varies inversely with vitamin A status; improvement in status after dietary interventions is strongly influenced by total body stores of vitamin A and is influenced little or not at all by serum retinol.

Teratology of retinoids

Either an excess or a deficiency of vitamin A and related compounds (retinoids) causes abnormal morphological development (teratogenesis). Potential retinoid sources come from dietary intake, nutritional supplements, and some therapeutic drugs. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of retinoid teratogenesis is important. This review first gives an overview of the principles of teratology as they apply to retinoid-induced malformations. It then describes relevant aspects of the biochemical pathway and signal transduction of retinoids. The teratogenic activity of various retinoid compounds, the role of the retinoid receptors, and important toxicokinetic parameters in teratogenesis are reviewed.

Postprandial plasma carotenoid responses following consumption of strawberries, red wine, vitamin C or spinach by elderly women

This study investigated the postprandial plasma responses of carotenoids for 24 h after feeding five specific breakfast beverages; four of which had low or no carotenoid content. In seven fasting healthy elderly female subjects a blood sample (baseline) was obtained, after which they were given a breakfast beverage, containing one of the following: 1) strawberries (240 g); 2) ascorbic acid (1250 mg); 3) spinach (294 g); 4) red wine (300 mL); and 5) control (breakfast beverage only). Blood samples were collected at 0.5, 1, 4, 7, 11, 15 and 24 h. Plasma carotenoids were measured using HPLC. No significant differences were found in the levels of the plasma carotenoids measured among the various treatments at baseline. In the spinach treatment, plasma lutein, zeaxanthin and beta-carotene levels at 7, 11, 15 and 24 h were significantly higher than those at baseline, as expected. All of the carotenoids measured in the control and vitamin C treatments, at subsequent sampling times were not significantly different from those at baseline. However, for most carotenoids, strawberry and red wine feeding resulted in significantly lower carotenoids values from baseline at 11 and 15 h. Subjects who received a diet with low levels of carotenoids, but whose postprandial plasma levels of carotenoids remain steady, might be explained by a mechanism that promotes secretion of carotenoids into the circulation. Assuming that plasma carotenoids are being used over time, we hypothesize that strawberries and red wine contain some substances that interfere with the secretion of carotenoids into the circulation.

Response to oral beta-carotene supplementation in patients with cystic fibrosis: a 16-month follow-up study

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of long-term oral beta-carotene supplementation for correcting impaired beta-carotene status in cystic fibrosis patients. Thirty-five patients (2.3-30.5 years of age) with coefficients of fat absorption of 46-96% (median 88%) received beta-carotene 0.5 mg/kg daily and were followed over a 16-month treatment period. Baseline plasma beta-carotene concentrations in patients (mean +/- SD, 0.09 +/- 0.06 mumol/l) were significantly lower than those of age-matched controls (0.86 +/- 0.56 mumol/l) (p < 0.0001). Concentrations increased rapidly and reached a plateau at or before 3 weeks that was maintained throughout the study period. Values obtained at 3 weeks (0.89 +/- 0.64 mumol/l) were significantly higher (p < 0.0001) than those at baseline and did not differ from controls. Plasma retinol and alpha-tocopherol concentrations increased during the observation period, but remained within normal ranges. Plasma retinyl palmitate, which was below the detection limit in all but one patient at baseline, did not increase. Thus oral beta-carotene supplementation is effective and normalizes beta-carotene status of cystic fibrosis patients without evidence of significant side effects.