title: Quality characteristics and lutein bioavailability from maize and vegetable-based health food.
abstract: Health food (ready-mix) was prepared from maize and vegetables a source of lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) and studied for its quality characteristics (moisture sorption isotherm, sensory, microbiological, chemical composition, and storage stability) on storage at varying temperatures for 3 months and L+Z bioavailability in mice. Results revealed a decrease in the L+Z level (4.70, 9.24, and 13.85%) of ready-mix stored at 4, 27, and 37°C, respectively. Critical relative humidity and critical moisture content of the product was 64% and 12.24%, respectively. The product is well accepted and was not affected adversely during storage. L+Z bioavailability from ready-mix in mice was higher in plasma (29.4%), liver (58.7%), and eye (14.6%) than control (mice received diet with purified L). To conclude, L+Z in the ready-mix is stable and more bioavailable than control. These findings may help in understanding the importance of simple food processing to improve L bioavailability under its deficient condition among an elderly population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Nutrition, CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, India.
authors.forename: Arunkumar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ranganathan
authors.forename: Mamatha Bangera
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Sheshappa
authors.forename: Vallikannan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Baskaran
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D004032:Diet; D005123:Eye / Q000378:metabolism; D005511:Food Handling; D058870:Food, Organic / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D055951:Functional Food / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards; D006813:Humidity; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D014975:Lutein / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009753:Nutritive Value; D013696:Temperature; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry*; D065146:Zeaxanthins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D065146:Zeaxanthins; D014867:Water; D014975:Lutein