Carotenoid composition and vitamin A activity of medicinally important green leafy vegetables

Carotenoid composition of green leafy vegetables (GLVs, n = 30) with medicinal value was analyzed by HPLC; vitamin A activity (as retinol equivalent, RE) of provitamin A carotenoids was calculated. Results show that among GLVs studied, the level of β-carotene (50–130 mg/100 g dry wt) was higher in nine GLVs than other carotenoids while lutein (50–187 mg/100 g dry wt) and zeaxanthin (1–5 mg/100 g dry wt) were higher in 12 GLVs than other xanthophylls. α-Carotene was detected only in nine GLVs, ranging from 1 to 37 mg/100 g dry wt. Interestingly, Chenopodium album, Commelina benghalensis and Solanum nigrum were found to contain higher levels of both lutein and β-carotene in the range of 84–187 and 50–115 mg/100 g dry wt, respectively. The values of retinol equivalents (RE) ranged from 641 to 19101 and were higher (>10,000) in six GLVs of the 30. The results demonstrate that GLVs studied contained higher levels of RE and lutein.     

Stability of vitamin A during storage of enteral feeding formulas

Vitamin A (13-cis-retinol, all-trans-retinol and total carotenes) content was evaluated in 15 samples of enteral feeding formulas during 3–6, 9 and 12 months of storage in closed containers, protected from light and at room temperature (22–30 °C). All formulas were nutritionally complete and/or recommended for different diseases. Equivalent batches were also evaluated after preparation and refrigerated storage for 24 h. Nutrient content did not decrease during both storage scenarios. Stability of vitamin A in the enteral feeding formulas, as determined in this study, is probably due to production and storage conditions, e.g. absence of oxygen in contact with the packaged product, the technological process used in the microencapsulation of vitamins, and protected storage in the absence of light and at a temperature maximum of 30 °C.     

Dietary vitamin A concentration alters fatty acid composition in pigs

This experiment was conducted to study the effect of vitamin A concentration in the diet on fatty acid composition in pigs. One-hundred and twenty eight Duroc × (Large White × Landrace) castrated male pigs were used. Pigs were randomly distributed and located in cages of four pigs each to the following treatment: vitamin A-enriched diet (100,000IU/kg) (n=16) and control diet with a basal level (7500IU/kg) (n=16). The pigs were slaughtered at an average weight of 125.9kg. No effect of diet vitamin A level on performance, carcass traits and intramuscular fat percentage was observed. The retinol concentration in subcutaneous backfat and retinol and retinol palmitate contents in liver were higher in the pigs that were given the vitamin A enriched diet than in those receiving the control diet. However the vitamin A supplementation did not increase the retinol content in the muscle. Pigs receiving the vitamin A enriched diet showed a higher C16:0 and ∑SFA proportions in the outer layer and C18:0 and ∑SFA proportions in the inner layer. Moreover, the diet rich in vitamin A led to a reduction of C18:1 n-9 and ∑MUFA proportions in subcutaneous backfat inner layer. Dietary vitamin A concentration had not influence on main fatty acids composition of intramuscular lipids. Dietary vitamin A enrichment lead to a higher C16:0, ∑SFA concentration in liver lipids.     

The vicious cycle of vitamin a deficiency: A review

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a serious and widespread public health problem and the leading cause of preventable blindness in young children. It is also associated with increased rates of death from severe infections, especially in developing countries. Over the past 35 years, researchers have examined the numerous activities of vitamin A in different tissues of the human body. VAD can lead to a series of ocular symptoms, anemia, and weak resistance to infection, which can increase the severity of infectious diseases and the risk of death. Cell development, vision, growth, and normal metabolism are among the vital processes that are insufficiently supported in the presence of VAD. VAD leads to impaired tissue function especially during the developmental periods of infancy, childhood, pregnancy, and lactation. We describe a multidirectional model of VAD that demonstrates how VAD can have progressive, negative effects on vital processes of the human body throughout the life cycle. This model starts with impaired intake and its link to decreased absorption and digestion and includes outcomes such as malnutrition, inflammation, and improper growth processes, including possible mechanisms. Together, these clinical and biochemical manifestations contribute to the vicious cycle of VAD.     

Provitamin A carotenoids and ascorbic acid contents of the different types of orange juices marketed in Spain

The vitamin C and provitamin A carotenoids contents of 25 commercially available Spanish orange juices were studied. Large differences in the levels of these compounds were found. On average, ultrafrozen orange juices (UFOJ) and orange juices from the ecological agriculture (OJFEA) showed the highest ascorbic acid contents (518 and 412 mg/l respectively) among the different kinds of orange juices studied. Some disagreement between the declared and the actual amounts of vitamin C were found. Provitamin A carotenoids were determined by means of the corresponding standards. The monohydroxycarotenoid accompanying β-cyptoxanthin in orange juices was identified as the non-provitamin A carotenoid, zeinoxanthin, on the basis of the methylation test with acidified methanol. Unusually high contents of β-carotene (>0.5 mg/l) were found in two samples, which could indicate that substantial amounts of the pigment were added to those juices. The mandarin juice analyzed showed the highest provitamin A activity (359.3 retinol activity equivalents/l) Among the orange juices surveyed, UFO proved to be the best source of provitamin A (78.5 retinol activity equivalents/l, on average). The lowest contents were found in orange juices from concentrate (OJFC) (22.4 retinol activity equivalents/l, on average, without considering the orange juices with unusual β-carotene contents).     

Vitamin C,vitamin A,phenolic compounds and total antioxidant capacity of new fruit juice and skim milk mixture beverages marketed in Spain

The growing interest in new functional foods with special characteristics and health properties has led to the development of new beverages based on fruit juice–skim milk mixtures. The proliferation of ready-to-drink beverages has caused the market to focus its interest on these products. Commercial conventionally pasteurized or sterilized beverages based on a mixture of fruit juice and skim milk were evaluated nutritionally for their concentrations of vitamin C, vitamin A and phenolic compounds and their total antioxidant capacity, taking the influence of physicochemical parameters into account. The main contribution to the total antioxidant capacity (TEAC, trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity) was provided by vitamin C, followed by phenolic compounds, in accordance with a mathematical equation obtained from the data: TEAC = −0.184 + 0.009 ∗ [vitamin A] + 0.011 ∗ [phenolic compounds] + 0.058 ∗ [vitamin C]. The R-squared value was 86.88%. Citrus fruits, such as lemons or oranges, were the fruits associated with the greatest antioxidant capacity in the samples analysed.     

食物中维生素A、叶酸和维生素E分析方法研究进展

对食物中 3种重要的维生素 :维生素A、叶酸和维生素E的常用分析方法进行了综述。指出了不同分析方法的适用范围以及各自的优缺点。着重介绍了高效液相色谱法在此 3种维生素分析中的应用。并提出了分析方法的发展趋势是高效液相色谱法 (包括正相高效液相色谱法、反相高效液相色谱法和非水反相高效液相色谱法 )、高效液相 -质谱法、气相色谱 -质谱法和离子色谱-质谱法等方法。     

高效液相色谱法同时测定食用油中维生素A和E的方法

本文建立了高效液相色谱法同时测定食用油中维生素A和4种维生素E生育酚的方法。利用维生素A醋酸酯和维生素E生育酚分别在325nm和294nm的波长下的吸收特性。以液相色谱紫外检测器双波长的方式,考察研究处理方式并开发同时检测食用油中维生素A和E的方法。通过该方法结果表明：维生素A的精密度RSD为0.84%~1.39%,回收率范围在95.8%~104.4%;维生素E的各生育酚组分精密度RSD为2.01%~4.14%,回收率范围在96.2%~112%。本方法也可应用于测定不同食用油中维生素A和E且有效可靠。测得葵花籽油维生素A含量735.58±3.86 μg/100g,维生素E(α-TE)的含量为54.33±2.92 mg/100g;玉米油维生素A含量676.75±2.15 μg/100g,维生素E(α-TE)的含量为24.78±1.36 mg/100g。通过方法验证,确认液相色谱同时检测维生素A和E的方法用于食用油中有效可靠。     

Effect of cholestin on toxicity of vitamin A in rats

A study was undertaken to investigate the effect of cholestin on the toxicity of vitamin A in male wistar rats. The rats were divided into six groups and fed different diets with or without supplement of 1% cholestin and 25,000-50,000 (IU) vitamin A for 2 months. Hence, the symptoms of vitamin A toxicity in rats included loss of body weight, hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. However, these toxic effects of vitamin A were significantly reduced when the rats fed a diet supplemented with cholestin. Furthermore, the level of vitamin A in the serum of rats treated with cholestin and vitamin A was higher than that of the rats treated with vitamin A alone. It indicated that cholestin might play a role in reducing the toxic effect of vitamin A in rats.     

Effect of taurine on toxicity of vitamin A in rats

A study was undertaken to investigate the effect of taurine on the toxicity of vitamin A in male wistar rats. The rats were divided into six groups and fed different diets with or without supplements of 5% taurine and 25,000–50,000 (IU) vitamin A for 2 months. It was found that the body weight of rats, the ratios of liver and kidney weight to body weight, and the level of glutathione in the liver were decreased with increasing the dose of vitamin A. The levels of vitamin A in the liver and kidney, the levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) in the plasma and liver, the activities of aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) in the plasma, and the levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine in the plasma of rats were increased with the increasing dose of vitamin A. Hence, symptoms of vitamin A toxicity in rats included loss of body weight, hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. However, these toxic effects of vitamin A were significantly reduced when the rats were fed the diet with the supplement of taurine. Furthermore, the level of vitamin A in the serum of rats treated with taurine and vitamin A was higher than that of rats treated with vitamin A alone. This indicated that taurine might play a role in reducing the toxic effect of vitamin A in rats.     

Recent advances in banana (musa spp.) biofortification to alleviate vitamin A deficiency

Abstract

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is one of the most prevalent micronutrient deficiencies that disproportionately affects low income populations in developing countries. Traditional breeding and modern biotechnology have significant potential to enhance micronutrient bioavailability in crops through biofortification. Bananas (Musa spp.) are economically important fruit crops grown throughout tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world where VAD is most prevalent. Some banana genotypes are rich in provitamin A carotenoids (pVACs), providing an opportunity to use bananas as a readily available vehicle for provitamin A delivery. This review summarizes the progress made in carotenoid research in bananas relative to banana diversity and the use of conventional breeding and transgenic approaches aimed at banana biofortification to address vitamin A deficiency. Existing reports on sampling strategies, pVAC retention and bioavailability are also evaluated as essential components for a successful banana biofortification effort. The wide variability of pVACs reported in banana cultivars coupled with recent advances in unraveling the diversity and genetic improvement of this globally important but often-neglected staple fruit crop underscores their importance in biofortification schemes.     

Freshwater fish as a dietary source of vitamin A in Cambodia

Vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem among children and women. Common Cambodian fish species were sampled and screened for vitamin A content. Contents of vitamin A-active compounds (all-trans retinol, all-trans dehydroretinol, 13-cis retinol, 13-cis dehydroretinol and β-carotene) were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography in samples of raw, whole fish from 29 fish species and in raw, edible parts from 24 species. Replicate samples were analysed in seven selected species. Two species, Parachela siamensis and Rasbora tornieri had very high vitamin A contents >1500 RAE/100 g raw, whole fish, and six species (Barbodes altus, Barbodes gonionatus, Dermogenys pusilla, Puntioplites proctozysron and Thynnichthys thynnoides) had high contents of 500–1500 RAE/100 g raw, whole fish. Two species, Puntioplites proctozysron and Thynnichthys thynnoides had high vitamin A contents in raw, edible parts, after employing traditional cleaning practices. (RAE: The amount of vitamin A active compounds in food is expressed as retinol activity equivalents (RAE), defined as the bioefficacy relative to all-trans-retinol [ West, C. E., & Eilander, A. (2002). Consequences of revised estimates of carotenoid bioefficacy for the control of vitamin A deficiency in developing countries. Journal of Nutrition, 132, 2920S–2926S]. Dehydroretinoids (vitamin A₂) are not converted to all-trans-retinol but have similar metabolic functions. In this paper, RAE refers to the functional bioefficacy as defined by Brouwer et al. [ Brouwer, I. A., Dusseldorp, M. V., West, C. E., & Steegers-Theunissen, R. P. M. (2001). Bioavailability and bioefficacy of folate and folic acid in man. Nutrition Research Review, 14, 267–293]).     

Bioaccessibility of provitamin A carotenoids in bananas (Musa spp.) and derived dishes in African countries

Bananas and plantains (Musa spp.) constitute an important component of the diet in Africa. Substantial levels of provitamin A carotenoids (pVACs) in Musa fruit have been reported, but the bioaccessibility of these pVACs remains unknown. In this study, we used an in vitro digestion model to assess the bioaccessibility (i.e. the transfer into micelles) of pVACs from boiled bananas and derived dishes using the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as a study context. In particular, the effect of different food ingredients added to boiled bananas on pVAC’s bioaccessibility was studied. The bioaccessibility of all-trans β-carotene ranged from 10% to 32%, depending on the food recipes, and was modified, particularly when pVACs-rich ingredients (palm oil/amaranth) were added. Efficiency of micellarization of all-trans β-carotene was similar to that of all-trans α-carotene and depended on the cultivar (Musilongo, plantain type, 16%; Vulambya, East African cooking type, 28%), while that of the 13-cis isomer was higher (21–33.5%). Taking into account bioaccessibility, the estimated vitamin A activity was significantly different across the different Musa-based dishes tested. Results are discussed in terms of recommendations to help reduce vitamin A deficiency in Musa-dependent African communities.     

HPLC法同时测定植物油中维生素A和不同构型维生素E含量

以石油醚为溶剂,用索氏提取法提取了黑芝麻、白花生、黑花生、葵花籽、大豆、棉花籽的油脂。油样品先用正己烷溶解,然后用甲醇定容,其中正己烷含量为20%（v/v）,用Hypersil ODS2 5μm色谱柱,甲醇为流动相,对所提油脂中维生素A、α-维生素E、γ-（β）维生素E、δ-维生素E含量进行检测。实验结果表明,在204nm波长下,维生素A、α-维生素E、γ-（β）维生素E、δ-维生素E在0²00μg/m L范围内与峰面积有良好的线性关系,标准曲线相关系数r均大于0.9978。维生素A、α-维生素E、γ-（β）维生素E、δ-维生素E加标平均回收率分别为97.83%、98.58%、98.75%、99.93%。      

Enhancement of the conjugated linoleic acid and vitamin A and E contents in goat milk through green fodder feeding

Twelve lactating crossbred goats (Sanan × Beetal) in early lactation were divided into two groups of six each. Group I was fed on fresh berseem fodder ( Trifolium alexandrinum ), whereas group II was fed on berseem fodder and concentrate mixture in 1 : 1 ratio to fulfil their nutritional requirements as per National Research Council (1981 ). Feed intake and milk yield were recorded daily, and milk samples were collected on 0, 30, 45 and 60 days of experimental feeding for the estimation of fat, vaccenic acid, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), vitamins A and E, and total antioxidant activity. There was no effect ( P >  0.05) of dietary treatments on daily as well as total milk yield and milk fat, solids-not-fat and total solids, although average total CLA (mg/g fat) content in milk during the trial was higher( P <  0.01) in group I (18.92) in comparison to group II (10.94). Vitamin A content averaged 0.46 and 0.27 µg/mL and vitamin E, 1.20 and 1.38 µg/mL in milk of groups I and II, respectively, were higher in the berseem-fed group ( P <  0.01) and total antioxidant activity of milk was also higher ( P <  0.01) in group I than in group II.     

Effect of vitamin A restriction on performance and meat quality in finishing Holstein bulls and steers

Twenty-four Holstein steers and 23 Holstein bulls (initial body weight = 252 ± 3.5 kg and age = 187 ± 7.5 d) were randomly allocated to 4 treatments arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial design with gender (bulls vs steers) and vitamin A supplementation (either restricted at 1.3 × 1000 IU/kg, VAR, or supplemented at 4.6 × 1000 IU/kg, CTR) to evaluate the effect of vitamin A restriction on performance, carcass and meat quality traits of Holstein steers and bulls. Intramuscular fat was less (P < 0.01) in bulls than in steers, and tended (P = 0.09) to be greater in VAR than in CTR animals. Oxidative stability tended (P = 0.09) to be greater in meat from VAR than from CTR animals at 21 d of ageing. Vitamin A restriction in Holstein bulls does not achieve the same intramuscular fat levels obtained with castration.     

超高效合相色谱(UPC^(2))技术快速测定植物油中的维生素A和维生素E北大核心CSCD

为了使植物油中脂溶性维生素E异构体得到更好的分离,建立一种超高效合相色谱(UPC^(2))快速分离和测定植物油中维生素A和维生素E的方法。样品经异丙醇溶解,过0.22μm有机相滤膜后直接进样分析。分析条件为HSS C_(18)SB色谱柱(3.0 mm×100 mm, 1.8μm),CO_(18)和0.2%甲酸甲醇溶液为流动相,梯度洗脱,流速1.0 mL/min,柱温50℃,检测波长290 nm。结果表明:维生素A和维生素E在测定范围内呈现良好的线性关系,相关系数均在0.999 5及以上,样品回收率为82.00%~106.82%,RSD在0.94%~3.57%之间,日内精密度与日间精密度的RSD分别为1.94%~3.51%与3.74%~5.13%,并采用已建立的方法对26份植物油样品中的维生素A和维生素E含量进行测定,表明植物油中维生素E含量最高,其中以α-生育酚和γ-生育酚为主,β-生育酚含量较低。该方法简单高效、灵敏度高、重复性好,可用于植物油中脂溶性维生素A和维生素E的分离检测。     

Insights into the role of bacteria in vitamin A biosynthesis: Future research opportunities

Abstract

Significant efforts have been made to address the hidden hunger challenges due to iron, zinc, iodine, and vitamin A since the beginning of the 21st century. Prioritizing the vitamin A deficiency (VAD) disorders, many countries are looking for viable alternative strategies such as biofortification. One of the leading causes of VAD is the poor bioconversion of β-carotene into retinoids. This review is focused on the opportunities of bacterial biosynthesis of retinoids, in particular, through the gut microbiota. The proposed hypothesis starts with the premise that an animal can able to store and timely convert carotenoids into retinoids in the liver and intestinal tissues. This theory is experimental with many scientific insights. The syntrophic metabolism, potential crosstalk of bile acids, lipocalins and lipopolysaccharides of gut microbiota are reported to contribute significantly to the retinoid biosynthesis. The gut bacteria respond to these kinds of factors by genetic restructuring driven mainly by events like horizontal gene transfer. A phylogenetic analysis of β-carotene 15, 15′-mono (di) oxygenase enzymes among a selected group of prokaryotes and eukaryotes was carried out to validate the hypotheses. Shedding light on the probiotic strategies through non-genetically modified organism such as gut bacteria capable of synthesizing vitamin A would address the VAD disorders.