Food sources carotenoids

Factors affecting carotenoid bioavailability food sources and intakes... 

Carotenoids in Foods Sources and Stability during Processing and Storage... 

Rich Food Sources of Other Provitamin A Carotenoids... 

Mercadante, A. Z. 2008. Carotenoids in foods Sources and stability during processing and storage. In Food Colorants Chemical and Functional Properties, ed. C. Socaciu, pp. 213-240. Boca Raton, FL CRC Press. 

Recently we published data that even in countries with excellent food sources and availability, insufficient vitamin A supply will occur (Schulz et ah, 2007). The aim of this trial was to analyze vitamin A and p-carotene status and investigate the contribution of nutrition to vitamin A and p-carotene supply in mother-infant pairs of multiparous births or births within short birth rates. Twenty-nine volimteers aged between 21 and 36 years were evaluated for 48 hours after delivery. In order to establish overall supply, retinol and p-carotene were determined in maternal plasma, cord blood, and colostrum via HPLC analysis. A food frequency protocol was obtained from all participants. Regardless of the high-to-moderate socioeconomic background, 27.6% of participants showed plasma retinol levels below 1.4 pmol/liter, which can be taken as borderline deficiency. In addition, 46.4% showed retinol intake <66% of RDA and 50.0% did not consume liver at all, although liver contributes as a main source for preformed retinol. Despite a high total carotenoid intake of 6.9 3.9mg/day, 20.7% of mothers showed plasma levels <0.5 pmol/liter p-carotene. 

One practical outcome of research on a fruit is its widespread application as a food for alleviating diseases associated with malnutrition. Particularly in impoverished western Africa, mango is a practical food source of nutrients, especially provitamin A carotenoids, dietary fiber,... 

Figs are a convenient single-food source broad in nutrient content, having exceptional amounts of insoluble and prebiotic dietary fiber, essential dietary minerals, and an unsaturated omega-6 fat, linoleic acid. Essential vitamins A (from carotenoids), B, and K are also present in high densities in the fig. These vitamins have an array of uses in the body—from antioxidant and metabolic roles to participation in blood coagulation and vascular function—that together support cardiovascular health. 

Some Carotenoids with Provitamin A Activity Found in Common Food Sources - ... 

On the basis of structure alone, Simpson and Chichester (1981) estimate that 50-60 carotenoids and apocarotenoid compounds could have provitamin A activity. Only a few of the identified carotenoids, however, have both vitamin A activity and occur in significant amounts in natural foods as commonly eaten by vertebrate animals (Bauemfeind, 1972). Of these, p-carotene has by far the most provitamin A activity. The a- and y-carotenoids and cryptoxanthin (3-hy-droxy-P-carotene), also found in substantial amounts in commonly consumed foods, have about one-half the activity of the P form. Table I contains a list of the provitamin A activity found in the most important mammalian food sources of carotenoids. Table II lists vitamin A-inactive carotenoids commonly found in food. 

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