title: Comparison of the postprandial chylomicron carotenoid responses in young and older subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The plant carotenoids may contribute to the beneficial health effect of fruits- and vegetables-rich diet. Epidemiological studies consistently associated high plasma carotenoids status with reduced age-related diseases. However, the data concerning the bioavailability of carotenoids in the elderly are scarce.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To test whether there is an age effect on carotenoid bioavailability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight young (20-35 y) and eight older (60-75 y) healthy adults ingested three different meals containing 40 g triacylglycerols (TG) and vegetable sources of carotenoids. These sources were either 188 g carrot purée which provided 30 mg betacarotene as the main carotenoid, or 61 g tomato purée providing 30mg lycopene, or 260 g cooked chopped spinach providing 30 mg lutein. TG and carotenoids were assayed in chylomicrons (CM) collected for 9 h postprandially.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no major effect of age on the postprandial CM/TG response (0-9 h area under the curve (AUC)). There was no major effect of age on the postprandial CM all- trans beta-carotene, cis betacarotene, alpha-carotene, and lutein responses. Adjustment of these responses by the CM TG responses did not reveal any age effect. While there was no significant effect of age on the CM lycopene response, the CM TG-adjusted lycopene response was significantly lower (-40 %) in the older than in the younger subjects (P < 0.04). The cis-trans ratios of CM betacarotene were not significantly different between the old and the young subjects. There was no significant effect of age on the ratio of CM retinyl-palmitate to the sum of alpha-carotene and beta-carotene measured after the carrot meal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The bioavailability of lycopene is apparently impaired in the old,while there is no major difference in the bioavailability of beta-carotene, alpha-carotene and probably lutein. There is also no major effect of age on the cis-trans isomerization of beta-carotene during absorption, and in the intestinal conversion of provitamin A carotenoids into vitamin A.
authors.affiliation: Unité Maladies Métaboliques et Micronutriments (UMMM), Centre INRA de Clermont-Ferrand/Theix, 63122, Saint-Genès-Champanelle.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cardinault
authors.forename: Viviane
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tyssandier
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grolier
authors.forename: Brigitte M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Winklhofer-Roob
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ribalta
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bouteloup-Demange
authors.forename: Edmond
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rock
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Borel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001682:Biological Availability; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002914:Chylomicrons / Q000378:metabolism*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007536:Isomerism; D014975:Lutein / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000077276:Lycopene; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019518:Postprandial Period; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002914:Chylomicrons; D014280:Triglycerides; D019207:beta Carotene; D002338:Carotenoids; D000077276:Lycopene; D014975:Lutein