title: No detectable carotenoid concentrations in serum of llamas and alpacas.
abstract: Carotenoids are lipid-soluble pigments and important for a variety of physiological functions. They are major dietary vitamin A precursors and act as lipophilic antioxidants in a variety of tissues and are associated with important health benefits in humans and animals. All animals must acquire carotenoids from their diet, but to our knowledge, there are no studies investigating the intestinal carotenoid absorption and their blood concentrations in New World camelids. The present study aimed to assess the serum concentrations of selected carotenoids in llamas (n = 13) and alpacas (n = 27). Serum carotenoids as well as retinol (vitamin A) and α-tocopherol (vitamin E) were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and these were unable to detect any carotenoids (α- and β-carotene, α- and β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene) in the samples. The concentrations of retinol in alpacas (2.89 ± 1.13 μmol/l; mean ± SD) were higher (p = 0.024) than those found in llamas (2.05 ± 0.87 μmol/l); however, the concentrations of α-tocopherol were not significantly (p = 0.166) different (llamas: 3.98 ± 1.83 μmol/l; alpacas: 4.95 ± 2.14 μmol/l). The results show that both llamas and alpacas are not able to absorb intact carotenoids, but efficiently convert provitamin A carotenoids to retinol.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raila
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Schweigert
authors.affiliation: University Clinic for Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stanitznig
authors.affiliation: University Clinic for Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lambacher
authors.affiliation: University Clinic for Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Franz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.|Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops Großbeeren/Erfurt e.V. (IGZ), Großbeeren, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baldermann
authors.affiliation: University Clinic for Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wittek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002161:Camelids, New World / Q000097:blood*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D002338:Carotenoids
keywords: New World camelids; carotenoids; vitamins