title: Beta-cryptoxanthin as a source of vitamin A.
abstract: Beta-cryptoxanthin is a common carotenoid that is found in fruit, and in human blood and tissues. Foods that are rich in beta-cryptoxanthin include tangerines, persimmons and oranges. Beta-cryptoxanthin has several functions that are important for human health, including roles in antioxidant defense and cell-to-cell communication. Most importantly, beta-cryptoxanthin is a precursor of vitamin A, which is an essential nutrient needed for eyesight, growth, development and immune response. We evaluate the evidence for beta-cryptoxanthin as a vitamin A-forming carotenoid in this paper. Observational, in vitro, animal model and human studies suggest that beta-cryptoxanthin has greater bioavailability from its common food sources than do alpha- and beta-carotene from theirs. Although beta-cryptoxanthin appears to be a poorer substrate for beta-carotene 15,15' oxygenase than is beta-carotene, animal model and human studies suggest that the comparatively high bioavailability of beta-cryptoxanthin from foods makes beta-cryptoxanthin-rich foods equivalent to beta-carotene-rich foods as sources of vitamin A. These results mean that beta-cryptoxanthin-rich foods are probably better sources of vitamin A, and more important for human health in general, than previously assumed.
authors.affiliation: Western Human Nutrition Research Center, USDA/ARS, CA, 95616, USA.
authors.forename: Betty J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Burri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002957:Citrus / Q000737:chemistry; D065366:Cryptoxanthins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D029788:Diospyros / Q000737:chemistry; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D008954:Models, Biological; D009753:Nutritive Value; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D050559:beta-Carotene 15,15'-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D065366:Cryptoxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids; C041635:alpha-carotene; C493358:BCO1 protein, human; D050559:beta-Carotene 15,15'-Monooxygenase
keywords: beta-cryptoxanthin; conversion; metabolism; retinol; tangerines; vitamin A