title: Influence of fasting on circulating levels of alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene. Effect of short-term supplementation.
abstract: We investigated the influence of fasting on the levels of alpha-tocopherol in plasma, erythrocytes and platelets, and on plasma beta-carotene. Six apparently healthy adults were subjected to 17-h feed-fasting experiments at various days before, during and after supplementation with alpha-tocopherol (455 mg/day, 41 days) and beta-carotene (25 mg/day, 24 days). Adipose tissue alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene were measured at regular intervals. Supplementation increased alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene in all compartments, except for beta-carotene in adipose tissue. Discontinuation caused a rapid return to baseline, except for adipose tissue alpha-tocopherol and plasma beta-carotene. Fasting caused linear increases of free fatty acids, consistent (but small) increases of plasma alpha-tocopherol and inconsistent increases of plasma beta-carotene. There were no fasting-related changes in other compartments. We conclude that fasting is unable to increase alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene in circulating lipoproteins and cells to a considerable extent, both at baseline levels and after short-term supplementation. Maintenance of high levels may necessitate regular high oral intakes.
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory for Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands. d.a.j.brouwer@lab.azg.nl
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Brouwer
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Molin
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: van Beusekom
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: van Doormaal
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Muskiet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides; D019207:beta Carotene; D014810:Vitamin E