Carotenoids in milk

Vitamin A activity is present in milk as retinol, retinyl esters and as carotenes. Whole cows milk contains an average of 52 fig retinol and 21 fig carotene per 100 g. The concentration of retinol in raw sheep s and pasteurized goats milks is 83 and 44 fig per 100 g, respectively, although milks of these species are reported (Holland et ai, 1991) to contain only trace amounts of carotenes. Human milk and colostrum contain an average of 58 and 155 fig retinol per lOOg, respectively. In addition to their role as provitamin A, the carotenoids in milk are reponsible for the colour of milk fat (Chapter 11). 

The concentration of vitamin A and carotenoids in milk is strongly influenced by the carotenoid content of the feed. Milk from animals fed on pasture contains higher levels of carotenes than that from animals fed on concentrate feeds. There is also a large seasonal variation in vitamin A concentration summer milk contains an average of 62 fig retinol and 31 fig carotene per 100 g while the values for winter milk are 41 and 11 fig per... 

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