Carotenoid absorption in chicken intestine.
The powdered flowers of marigold (Tagetes erecta) are used as a cheap source of carotenoids in avicultura. Lutein (3,3'-dyhydroxi-alpha-carotene) constitutes up to 85 to 90% of marigold carotenoids. In the plant, lutein is found esterified to palmitic or estearic acid. In chicken, carotenoid is hydrolized in the first portion of the small intestine, and absorbed as free lutein. After the absorption, lutein is not re-esterified in the different chicken tissues.
D000818:Animals; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D002645:Chickens / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D008297:Male
D005227:Fatty Acids; D002338:Carotenoids