Cassava with enhanced beta-carotene maintains adequate vitamin A status in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) despite substantial cis-isomer content.
Efforts to increase beta-carotene in cassava have been successful, but the ability of high-beta-carotene cassava to prevent vitamin A deficiency has not been determined. Two studies investigated the bioefficacy of provitamin A in cassava and compared the effects of carotenoid content and variety on vitamin A status in vitamin A-depleted Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). Gerbils were fed a vitamin A-free diet 4 weeks prior to treatment. In Expt 1, treatments (ten gerbils per group) included 45 % high-beta-carotene cassava, beta-carotene and vitamin A supplements (intake matched to high-beta-carotene cassava group), and oil control. In Expt 2, gerbils were fed cassava feeds with 1.8 or 4.3 nmol provitamin A/g prepared with two varieties. Gerbils were killed after 4 weeks. For Expt 1, liver vitamin A was higher (P < 0.05) in the vitamin A (1.45 (sd 0.23) micromol/liver), lower in the control (0.43 (sd 0.10) micromol/liver), but did not differ from the beta-carotene group (0.77 (sd 0.12) micromol/liver) when compared with the high-beta-carotene cassava group (0.69 (sd 0.20) micromol/liver). The bioconversion factor was 3.7 microg beta-carotene to 1 microg retinol (2 mol:1 mol), despite 48 % cis-beta-carotene [(Z)-beta-carotene] composition in cassava. In Expt 2, cassava feed with 4.3 nmol provitamin A/g maintained vitamin A status. No effect of cassava variety was observed. Serum retinol concentrations did not differ. Beta-carotene was detected in livers of gerbils receiving cassava and supplements, but the cis-to-trans ratio in liver differed from intake. Biofortified cassava adequately maintained vitamin A status and was as efficacious as beta-carotene supplementation in the gerbil model.
Howe
Julie A
JA
Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
Maziya-Dixon
Bussie
B
Tanumihardjo
Sherry A
SA
D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D001835:Body Weight; D003369:Cottonseed Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005527:Food, Fortified; D005849:Gerbillinae; D007536:Isomerism; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D002365:Manihot; D009752:Nutritional Status; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry
D003369:Cottonseed Oil; D014815:Vitamins; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A