All-trans β-Carotene Appears to Be More Bioavailable than 9-cis or 13-cis β-Carotene in Gerbils Given Single Oral Doses of Each Isomer

Deming, Denise M.; Teixeira, Sandra R.; Erdman, John W. Jr

All-trans β-Carotene Appears to Be More Bioavailable than 9-cis or 13-cis β-Carotene in Gerbils Given Single Oral Doses of Each Isomer

2002

Deming, Denise M. | Teixeira, Sandra R. | Erdman, John W. Jr

Male gerbils (28 d old) were used to investigate the β-carotene (βC) isomer pattern in the intestine and tissues 6 h after ingestion of three βC isomers. After a 49- to 52-d period of consuming the AIN93G diet without vitamin A (VA) or βC, three groups (n = 7) were gavaged with crystalline all-trans (at)βC, 9-cis (9c)βC or 13-cis (13c)βC solubilized in oil and a control group (n = 5) with oil alone. Total βC per dose for gerbils in the atβC, 9cβC and 13cβC groups was 384 +/- 3, 391 +/- 2 and 386 +/- 2 nmol, respectively. After 6 h, gerbils were killed and serum, stomach contents, small intestinal contents (SIC), small intestinal mucosal scrapings (SIM) and liver were collected. βC and VA in tissues were quantified using HPLC. Nonspecific isomerization of βC occurred in the digestive tracts of gerbils administered βC; the greatest effect was in the SIC of the 13cβC (50:50 cis:trans) and 9cβC (70:30 cis:trans) groups. Concentrations of total βC in the SIM of gerbils administered at βC were greater than those intubated with 9cβC and 13cβC (P < 0.05). Gerbils that received atβC had greater total βC concentrations in serum (P < 0.05) and total βC stores in liver (P < 0.01) compared with those administered 9cβC and 13cβC. Gerbils intubated with 9cβC had higher levels of total βC in serum (P = 0.05) and liver (P < 0.01) compared with those intubated with 13cβC. Because of its preferential uptake, transport and tissue accumulation, atβC appears to be a more bioavailable isomer than 9cβC or 13cβC in gerbils.

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