Beta-carotene conversion to vitamin A decreases as the dietary dose increases in humans.
It has been suggested that high doses of beta-carotene limit its conversion to vitamin A, yet this effect has not been well established in humans. A feeding study was conducted in a randomized crossover design in which volunteers consumed 2 doses of deuterium-labeled beta-carotene on 2 occasions, with beta-carotene and vitamin A response assessed by plasma area under the concentration time curve (AUC). Seven volunteers (4 men, 3 women) consumed each of 2 doses of beta-carotene-d8 and provided serial blood samples for 37 d after each dose. beta-Carotene doses were 20 and 40 mg. Plasma beta-carotene-d8 was assessed by HPLC-MS. Plasma retinol (ROH)-d4, which was derived from the beta-carotene-d8, was evaluated by GC-MS after saponification to convert retinyl esters to ROH prior to the formation of the trimethylsilylether. The plasma AUC for beta-carotene-d8 increased 2-fold from the 20-mg dose to the 40-mg dose. The plasma AUC for ROH-d4 increased 36% from the 20-mg dose to the 40-mg dose. These results establish that, in humans, beta-carotene conversion to vitamin A decreases as the dietary dose increases.
USDA Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA. janet.novotny@ars.usda.gov
Janet A
JA
Novotny
Dawn J
DJ
Harrison
Robert
R
Pawlosky
Vincent P
VP
Flanagan
Earl H
EH
Harrison
Anne C
AC
Kurilich
D000328:Adult; D019540:Area Under Curve; D003903:Deuterium; D004032:Diet; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D007553:Isotope Labeling; D007554:Isotopes; D008297:Male; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
D007554:Isotopes; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D003903:Deuterium