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The relative vitamin A value of 9‐cis and 13‐cis β‐Carotene as compared to all‐trans β‐Carotene in Mongolian gerbils
Author(s) -
Bresnahan Kara,
Davis Chris,
Tanumihardjo Sherry
Publication year - 2013
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.27.1_supplement.38.4
Subject(s) - vitamin , carotene , retinol , biofortification , medicine , chemistry , zoology , biology , food science , micronutrient , pathology
Provitamin A biofortification of staple crops may ameliorate vitamin A (VA) status in countries where deficiency is prevalent. To assess the VA impact of these crops, the unique bioefficacies of cis‐isomers (formed during cooking) as compared to all‐trans (at) β‐carotene must be determined. We evaluated the VA efficacy of 9‐cis (9c) and 13‐cis (13c) isomers as compared with at β‐carotene and VA‐positive and negative control groups in VA‐depleted Mongolian gerbils in two studies (Study 1, n = 56; Study 2, n = 57). Gerbils were fed a VA‐deficient diet throughout the studies. A 4‐wk depletion was followed by 3‐wk (Study 1) or 4‐wk (Study 2) treatment with 9c, 13c, or at β‐carotene in cottonseed oil (Study 1, 8.06 μg/day; Study 2, 16.1 μg/day). In Study 1, no treatment group maintained baseline liver stores (0.70 ± 0.21 μmol/liver). at Liver stores (0.54 ± 0.15 μmol/liver) did not differ from the VA group (0.56 ± 0.10 μmol/liver) when fed 2:1, but did differ significantly from 13c (0.41 ± 0.14 μmol/liver) and 9c (0.44 ± 0.18 μmol/liver). As baseline liver reserves were not maintained in Study 1, the study was repeated at a higher dose and for an extended experimental period. HPLC analysis of carotenoid and retinol concentrations in liver, serum, kidney, spleen, testes, and lung samples from Study 2 is underway. Funded by a College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Honors Scholarship, Standard Process, Inc., and HarvestPlus 8907.