Carotenes, which are yellow-orange pigments, are a class of related organic compounds classified as hydrocarbons, more specifically as terpenoids, with the molecular formula C40H56. Plants, fungi, and photosynthetic bacteria synthesize carotenes, while animals must obtain them as a dietary nutrient (Vrolijk et al., 2015). Plants are capable of synthesizing several isomers of carotene. Alpha-car...

Carotenes are a group of fat-soluble pigments in many fruits and vegetables associated with several important biological effects, like protection against the development of some forms of cancer and cardiovascular disease. The carotene bioavailability in plant foods, i.e. the fraction of ingested carotenes taken up and utilised in the body, is often increased by processing. The increased bioavai...

The importance of antioxidants in reducing risks of chronic diseases has been well established; however, antioxidant intakes by a free-living population have not yet been estimated adequately. In this study, we aimed to estimate total antioxidant intakes from diets and supplement sources in the U.S. population. The USDA Flavonoid Database, food consumption data, and dietary supplement use data ...

The assessment of carotenoid bioavailability has long been hampered by the limited knowledge of their absorption mechanisms. However, recent reports have elucidated important aspects of carotenoid digestion and absorption. Disruption of food matrix and increasing amounts of fat seem to enhance the absorption of carotenes to a larger extent than that of xanthophylls. Comparing different caroteno...

Red palm oil (RPO) contains high concentrations of beta- and alpha-carotene, and is presumed to possess a higher vitamin A value than other foods. The objective was to determine the metabolic vitamin A and carotene values of refined red palm oil in healthy adult subjects, using a stable isotope reference method. Twelve healthy subjects were administered a small standardised meal containing 10 g...