Canthaxanthin, carotenoid interactions

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. 

Carotenoid radical formation and stabilization on silica-alumina occurs as a result of the electron transfer between carotenoid molecule and the Al3+ electron acceptor site. Both the three-pulse ESEEM spectrum (Figure 9.3a) and the HYSCORE spectrum (Figure 9.3b) of the canthaxanthin/ A1C13 sample contain a peak at the 27A1 Larmor frequency (3.75 MHz). The existence of electron transfer interactions between Al3+ ions and carotenoids in A1C13 solution can serve as a good model for similar interactions between adsorbed carotenoids and Al3+ Lewis acid sites on silica-alumina. 

Blakely, S., Brown, E., Babu, U., Grundel, E., and Mitchell, G. 1994. Bioavailability of carotenoids in tomato paste and dried spinach and their interactions with canthaxanthin. FASEB J. 8, 192. 

Brown, E.D. et al.. Vegetable concentrates interact with canthaxanthin to affect carotenoid bioavailability and superoxide dismutase activity but not immune response in rats, Nutr. Res.,... 

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