title: β-Carotene in Golden Rice is as good as β-carotene in oil at providing vitamin A to children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Golden Rice (GR) has been genetically engineered to be rich in β-carotene for use as a source of vitamin A.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to compare the vitamin A value of β-carotene in GR and in spinach with that of pure β-carotene in oil when consumed by children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children (n = 68; age 6-8 y) were randomly assigned to consume GR or spinach (both grown in a nutrient solution containing 23 atom% ²H₂O) or [²H₈]β-carotene in an oil capsule. The GR and spinach β-carotene were enriched with deuterium (²H) with the highest abundance molecular mass (M) at M(β-C)+²H₁₀. [¹³C₁₀]Retinyl acetate in an oil capsule was administered as a reference dose. Serum samples collected from subjects were analyzed by using gas chromatography electron-capture negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry for the enrichments of labeled retinol: M(retinol)+4 (from [²H₈]β-carotene in oil), M(retinol)+5 (from GR or spinach [²H₁₀]β-carotene), and M(retinol)+10 (from [¹³C₁₀]retinyl acetate).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using the response to the dose of [¹³C₁₀]retinyl acetate (0.5 mg) as a reference, our results (with the use of AUC of molar enrichment at days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 after the labeled doses) showed that the conversions of pure β-carotene (0.5 mg), GR β-carotene (0.6 mg), and spinach β-carotene (1.4 mg) to retinol were 2.0, 2.3, and 7.5 to 1 by weight, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The β-carotene in GR is as effective as pure β-carotene in oil and better than that in spinach at providing vitamin A to children. A bowl of ~100 to 150 g cooked GR (50 g dry weight) can provide ~60% of the Chinese Recommended Nutrient Intake of vitamin A for 6-8-y-old children.
authors.affiliation: Carotenoids & Health Laboratory, USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA. guangwen.tang@tufts.edu
authors.forename: Guangwen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Yuming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Shi-an
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Gerard E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Dallal
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Grusak
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002681:China; D003314:Corn Oil / Q000737:chemistry; D017666:Deuterium Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D030841:Food, Genetically Modified; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D009753:Nutritive Value; D012275:Oryza / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018724:Spinacia oleracea / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000517:prevention & control; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D003314:Corn Oil; D017666:Deuterium Oxide