Premium
Vitamin A bioefficacy of traditional and provitamin A‐biofortified banana
Author(s) -
Bresnahan Kara Allison,
Arscott Sara,
Tanumihardjo Sherry
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.25.1_supplement.96.2
Subject(s) - biofortification , provitamin , vitamin , vitamin a deficiency , microbiology and biotechnology , food science , retinol , biology , micronutrient , carotenoid , medicine , biochemistry , pathology
The provitamin A biofortification of banana could provide a sustainable and cost effective method to ameliorate vitamin A deficiency in many tropical countries where banana is a staple food. However, matrix effects in banana may limit the absorption of vitamins, which could render biofortification efforts ineffective. We examined VA bioefficacy of traditional and high provitamin A biofortified bananas using Mongolian gerbils (n = 97). After feeding VA‐deficient diet for 8 weeks, customized banana diets were fed for 17 days in studies 1 and 2. Both studies utilized VA positive and negative controls, as well as a VA plus banana group. In study 1, which assessed traditional banana, only the unripe Cavendish group VA stores (16.6 ± 7.7 nmol/liver) differed from baseline (15.7 ± 7.7 nmol/liver), (P < 0.05). In study 2, which compared traditional and high provitamin A biofortified bananas, no groups differed from baseline VA stores. Both studies provide support for matrix effects negatively impacting provitamin A absorption because limited VA bioefficacy was observed regardless of provitamin A concentration. α‐Retinol levels, derived from α‐carotene, were significantly elevated in gerbils fed traditional ripe and biofortified banana. This is of interest because α‐retinol may have partial VA function. Biofortification efforts in this crop need further evaluation. (Support from HarvestPlus 8907.)