Beta-carotene accumulation in serum and skin13

The accumulation off3-carotene in serum and skin was evaluated in human volunteers. A single S I -mg dose of 3-carotene given in the absence of dietary fat resulted in no detectable change in serum /3-carotene. The same dose administered with 200 g fat increased serum /3-carotene 2.5-fold at 40 h. Similarly, administering a-carotene daily in three divided doses with meals raised the serum /3-carotene concentration three times as high compared with the same total dose administered once a day: both regimens had the same time constant for serum accumulation: 9-10 d. Remittance measurements ofskin color demonstrated that the accumulation of /3-carotene in skin was delayed by up to 2 wk compared with serum accumulation. These data indicate that fl-carotene absorption requires dietary fat and is enhanced by administering with meals but there is a long time constant for serum (10 d) and tissue (several weeks) accumulation. Am J C/in Nutr l993;57:175-8l.