background: antioxidants such as α-tocopherol (vitamin e) and β-carotene (vitamin a) play an important role in protective effect of repeated brief periods of ischemia, namely ischemic preconditioning (ipc). values of these antioxidants were investigated and compared after induction of ischemia reperfusion (ir) and kidney ipc in both male and female rats. methods: forty eight wistar rats were di...

Carotenoids are red, orange and yellow pigments, which are widely distributed in fruit and vegetables. The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of conventional, high pressure and microwave cooking on the concentrations of β-carotene in carrot and sweet corn. Raw carrots were washed, peeled and diced to a uniform size and then frozen at -70°C. Sweet corn was also provided in a simil...

Background: Vitamin E, β -carotene, and vitamin C are micronutrient antioxidants that protect cells from oxidative damage involved in prostate carcinogenesis. In separate trials, supplemental vitamin E was associated with a decreased risk of prostate cancer among smokers and supplemental β -carotene was associated with a decreased risk of prostate can cer among men with low baseline plasma β -c...

The extraction of lutein and β-carotene from spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) leaves is important to the dietary supplement industry. A Box-Behnken design and response surface methodology (RSM) were used to investigate the effect of process variables on the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of lutein and β-carotene from spinach. Three independent variables, extraction temperature (°C), extract...

Dietary carotenoids like β-carotene are converted within the body either to retinoid, via β-carotene-15,15'-dioxygenase (BCO1), or to β-apo-carotenoids, via β-carotene-9',10'-oxygenase 2. Some β-apo-carotenoids are potent antagonists of retinoic acid receptor (RAR)-mediated transcriptional regulation, which is required to ensure normal heart development and functions. We established liquid chro...

Ketocarotenoids are high-value pigments used commercially across multiple industrial sectors as colorants and supplements. Chemical synthesis using petrochemical-derived precursors remains the production method of choice. Aquaculture is an example where ketocarotenoid supplementation of feed is necessary to achieve product viability. The biosynthesis of ketocarotenoids, such as canthaxanthin, p...

Diet quality indices can predict nutritional adequacy of usual intake, but validity should be determined. The aim was to assess the validity of total and sub-scale score within the Australian Recommended Food Score (ARFS), in relation to fasting plasma carotenoid concentrations. Diet quality and fasting plasma carotenoid concentrations were assessed in 99 overweight and obese adults (49.5% fema...

Carrot, tomato and papaya represent important dietary sources of β-carotene and lycopene. The main objective of the present study was to compare the bioavailability of carotenoids from these food sources in healthy human subjects. A total of sixteen participants were recruited for a randomised cross-over study. Test meals containing raw carrots, tomatoes and papayas were adjusted to deliver an ...

OBJECTIVE to evaluate retinol and β-carotene serum levels and their relationship with risk factors for cardiovascular disease in individuals with morbid obesity, resident in Rio de Janeiro. METHODOLOGY blood serum concentrations of retinol and β-carotene of 189 morbidly obese individuals were assessed. The metabolic syndrome was identified according to the criteria of the National Cholesterol...

Experimental approaches targeting carotenoid biosynthetic enzymes have successfully increased the seed β-carotene content of crops. However, linkage analysis of seed carotenoids in Arabidopsis thaliana recombinant inbred populations showed that only 21% of quantitative trait loci, including those for β-carotene, encode carotenoid biosynthetic enzymes in their intervals. Thus, numerous loci rema...