The effects of dietary taurocholate, fat, protein, and carbohydrate on the distribution and fate of dietary beta-carotene in ferrets.
Dietary beta-carotene has been shown to have cancer chemopreventive action on the basis of epidemiologic evidence and studies in animals. Because the anticarcinogenic property of beta-carotene may be exerted per se, it is desirable to achieve the maximum absorption and accumulation of intact beta-carotene in various parts of the body. Therefore the effects of dietary taurocholate, fat, protein, and carbohydrate on the absorption, accumulation, and fate of dietary beta-carotene (3.730 nmol/g diet) in selected tissues of ferrets were explored. Taurocholate (0.2-1.0% wt/wt) and fat (6-23% wt/wt) caused two- to threefold (p < 0.05) increases in the absorption and accumulation of beta-carotene in the liver, lungs, and adipose tissue in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, neither dietary protein (10-40% wt/wt) nor carbohydrate (25-55% wt/wt) affected the absorption and accumulation of beta-carotene in various tissues. Significantly, taurocholate, 23% fat, or 40% protein also markedly increased the amounts of hepatic retinol and retinyl esters derived from dietary beta-carotene. These results indicate that dietary taurocholate, fat, and high protein have a marked influence on the exposure of beta-carotene to intestinal carotene cleavage enzyme or its activity. Thus an ideal combination of dietary components (wt/wt) in ferrets for the maximal absorption and accumulation of beta-carotene in different tissues is 0.5% taurocholate and 13.4% fat, whereas 1% taurocholate, 23% fat, or 40% protein stimulates its conversion to vitamin A.
Lakshman
M R
MR
Lipid Research Laboratory, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC 20422, USA.
Liu
Q H
QH
Sapp
R
R
Somanchi
M
M
Sundaresan
P R
PR
D000042:Absorption; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005289:Ferrets / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D013656:Taurocholic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000378:metabolism; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*
D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D013656:Taurocholic Acid