title: Preferential increase in chylomicron levels of the xanthophylls lutein and zeaxanthin compared to beta-carotene in the human.
abstract: The time-course of appearance of five carotenoids in chylomicrons and their distribution pattern were studied following ingestion of a single dose of Betatene, a natural carotenoid source composed of 0.5% lutein, 0.75% zeaxanthin, 3.6% alpha-carotene, 70.3% all-trans beta-carotene, 22.7% beta-carotene cis isomers, 2.1% unidentified carotenoids and no lycopene. Lutein, zeaxanthin, alpha-carotene and all-trans beta-carotene but not lycopene levels in chylomicrons increased after Betatene ingestion with a maximum at 9 h and a distinct decline from 9 to 12 h. However, the carotenoid pattern in the chylomicron fraction did not match the pattern in Betatene, with a 14-fold and 4-fold higher level of lutein and zeaxanthin, respectively, compared to their content in Betatene. The contribution of alpha-carotene to the carotenoid composition in chylomicrons reflected its content in Betatene, whereas the relative amount of all-trans beta-carotene was substantially lower than in Betatene. Thus, in the presence of high amounts of beta-carotene, there is a preferential uptake of the xanthophylls lutein and zeaxanthin as compared to all-trans beta-carotene from the intestinal lumen into chylomicrons.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physiologische Chemie I, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gärtner
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stahl
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sies
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002914:Chylomicrons / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014975:Lutein / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012907:Smoking; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013997:Time Factors; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002914:Chylomicrons; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene; D014975:Lutein