Low β-carotene bioaccessibility and bioavailability from high fat, dairy-based meal

Johanita Kruger; Nadine Sus; Andrea Moser; Sophie Scholz; Guenther Adler; Sascha Venturelli; Jan Frank

doi:10.1007/s00394-024-03423-w

Low β-carotene bioaccessibility and bioavailability from high fat, dairy-based meal

Eur J Nutr. 2024 May 16. doi: 10.1007/s00394-024-03423-w. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Johanita Kruger^{1

2}, Nadine Sus³, Andrea Moser³, Sophie Scholz³, Guenther Adler³, Sascha Venturelli³, Jan Frank³

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Nutritional Sciences, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 28, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany. johanita.kruger@nutres.de.
² Department of Consumer and Food Sciences and Institute of Food Nutrition and Well-Being, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Private Bag X20, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa. johanita.kruger@nutres.de.
³ Institute of Nutritional Sciences, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 28, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany.

PMID: 38753174
DOI: 10.1007/s00394-024-03423-w

Abstract

Purpose: The original aim of the study was to determine, in a double-blind 3-arm crossover human trial (n = 7), the effect of supplemental levels of iron (25 mg) and zinc (30 mg) on β-carotene (synthetic) bioavailability (10 h postprandial). However, despite the high dose of supplemental β-carotene (15 mg) consumed with the high fat (18 g), dairy-based breakfast test meal, there was a negligible postprandial response in plasma and triglyceride rich fraction β-carotene concentrations. We then systematically investigated the possible reasons for this low bioavailability of β-carotene.

Methods: We determined (1) if the supplemental β-carotene could be micellised and absorbed by epithelial cells, using a Caco-2 cell model, (2) if the fat from the test meal was sufficiently bioavailable to facilitate β-carotene bioavailability, (3) the extent to which the β-carotene could have been metabolised and converted to retinoic acid/retinol and (4) the effect of the test meal matrix on the β-carotene bioaccessibility (in vitro digestion) and Caco-2 cellular uptake.

Results: We found that (1) The supplemental β-carotene could be micellised and absorbed by epithelial cells, (2) the postprandial plasma triacylglycerol response was substantial (approximately 75-100 mg dL^-1 over 10 h), indicating sufficient lipid bioavailability to ensure β-carotene absorption, (3) the high fat content of the meal (approximately 18 g) could have resulted in increased β-carotene metabolism, (4) β-carotene bioaccessibility from the dairy-based test meal was sixfold lower (p < 0.05) than when digested with olive oil.

Conclusion: The low β-carotene bioavailability is probably due to a combination of the metabolism of β-carotene to retinol by BCMO1 and interactions of β-carotene with the food matrix, decreasing the bioaccessibility.

Trail registration: The human trail was retrospectively registered (ClinicalTrail.gov ID: NCT05840848).

Keywords: BCMO1; Bioaccessibility; Cellular uptake; Dairy; Divalent minerals; Food matrix; Lipid profile; Micellization.

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT05840848