title: beta-Carotene conversion products and their effects on adipose tissue.
abstract: Recent epidemiological data suggest that beta-carotene may be protective against metabolic diseases in which adipose tissue plays a key role. Adipose tissue constitutes the major beta-carotene storage tissue and its functions have been shown to be modulated in response to beta-carotene breakdown products, especially retinal produced after cleavage by beta-carotene 15,15'-monooxygenase (BCMO1), and retinoic acid arising from oxidation of retinal. However, the possibility exists that beta-carotene in its intact form can also affect adipocyte function. Development of a knock out model and identification of a loss-of-function mutation have pointed out BCMO1 as being probably the sole enzyme responsible for provitamin A conversion into retinal in mammals. The utilisation of BCMO1(-/-)mice should provide insights on beta-carotene effect on its own in the future. In humans, intervention studies have highlighted the huge interindividual variation of beta-carotene conversion efficiency, possibly due to genetic polymorphisms, which might impact on response to beta-carotene. This brief review discusses the processes involved in beta-carotene conversion and the effect of cleavage products on body fat and adipose tissue function.
authors: School of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Development, Newcastle University, King's Road, NE2 1PN, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors: Franck
authors: F
authors: Tourniaire
authors: Erwan
authors: E
authors: Gouranton
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: von Lintig
authors: Jaap
authors: J
authors: Keijer
authors: M Luisa
authors: ML
authors: Bonet
authors: Jaume
authors: J
authors: Amengual
authors: Georg
authors: G
authors: Lietz
authors: Jean-François
authors: JF
authors: Landrier