title: Effects of organic and conventional growth systems on the content of carotenoids in carrot roots, and on intake and plasma status of carotenoids in humans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The demand for organic food products has increased during the last decades due to their probable health effects, among others. A higher content of secondary metabolites such as carotenoids in organic food products has been claimed, though not documented, to contribute to increased health effects of organic foods. The aim was to study the impact of organic and conventional agricultural systems on the content of carotenoids in carrots and human diets. In addition, a human cross-over study was performed, measuring the plasma status of carotenoids in humans consuming diets made from crops from these agricultural systems.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The content of carotenoids in carrot roots and human diets was not significantly affected by the agricultural production system or year, despite differences in fertilisation strategy and levels. The plasma status of carotenoids increased significantly after consumption of the organic and conventional diets, but no systematic differences between the agricultural production systems were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expected higher content of presumed health-promoting carotenoids in organic food products was not documented in this study.
authors.affiliation: Division of Food Chemistry, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Mørkhøj Bygade 19, DK-2860 Søborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Malene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Søltoft
authors.forename: Anette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bysted
authors.forename: Katja H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.forename: Alicja Budek
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Mark
authors.forename: Susanne G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Bügel
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Knuthsen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D018552:Daucus carota / Q000737:chemistry*; D004032:Diet; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058871:Organic Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002338:Carotenoids