Alpha-cryptoxanthin

Vitamin A is a family of fat-soluble vitamins, of which retinol is the most active form. Beta-carotene is a provitamin carotenoid that is converted to retinol more efficiently than other provitamin carotenoids. Other provitamin carotenoids include alpha-carotene and (trivial names) b-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin they are widely available in foods. 

Nutrient Content high in protein, prebiotic fiber, antioxidant vitamins A and C, B vitamins, dietary minerals Phytochemical Content high in carotenoids (alpha- and beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein, violaxanthin), polyphenols (quercetin, gallic acid, gallotannins, rhamnetin, cyanidin and xanthone glycosides, including mangiferin, mainly in skin)... 

High Phytochemical Content carotenoids (from spinach—alpha- and beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein) polyphenols (anthocya-nins, proanthocyanidins, resveratrol, ellagic acid, ellagitannins)... 

Thurnham DI, Smith E, Flora PS. Concurrent liquid-chromatographic assay of retinol, alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lycopene, and bet l-cryptoxanthin in plasma, with tocopherol acetate as internal standard. Clin Chem 1988 34 377-81. 

Alpha-carotene Beta-carotene Beta-cryptoxanthin Lycopene Lutein -i- zeaxanthin... 

A Homnava, J Payne, P Koehler, R Eitenmiller. Provitamin A (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin) and ascorbic acid content of Japanese and American persimmons. J Food Qual 13 85-95, 1990. 

The presence of other carotenoids can affect the absorption of carotenoids into intestinal mucosal cells, since carotenoids can compete for absorption or facilitate the absorption of another. Data on carotenoid interactions are not clear. Human studies show that /3-carotene decreases lutein absorption, while lutein has either no effect or a lowering effect on /3-carotene absorption. Although not confirmed in humans, the inhibitory effect of lutein on /3-carotene absorption might be partly attributed to the inhibition of the /3-carotene cleavage enzyme by lutein shown in rats. Beta-carotene also seemed to lower absorption of canthaxanthin, whereas canthaxanthin did not inhibit /3-carotene absorption. Studies showed that /3-carotene increased lycopene absorption, although lycopene had no effect on /3-carotene. Alpha-carotene and cryptoxanthin show high serum responses to dietary intake compared to lutein. In addition, cis isomers of lycopene seem to be more bioavailable than the -trans, and selective intestinal absorption of a)X-trans /3-carotene occurs, as well as conversion of the 9-cis isomer to sW-trans /3-carotene. It is clear, then, that selective absorption of carotenoids takes place into the intestinal mucosal cell. 

Carotenoids Alpha- and beta-carotene cryptoxanthin, lutein, lycopene, zeaxanthin Quench singlet and triplet oxygen, increase cell-cell communication Red, orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, egg yolk, butter fat, margarine... 

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