Carotenoid Uptake by Human Triacylglycerol-Rich Lipoproteins from the Green Leafy Vegetable Eruca sativa

Abstract

Carotenoid absorbability from arugula (Eruca sativa) was estimated from the contents of the triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins (TRL) of 15 women over a 6 h time interval, yielding an average apparent absorption of 0.27 μmole of β-carotene (5.6 μmole intake), whereas a similar intake of standard β-carotene resulted in the absorption of 0.59 μmole. The corresponding rates for the raw and cooked leaves were 18.2 ± 7 and 22.9 ± 13nmole·L⁻¹h⁻¹ (P < 0.05), against 37.1 ± 12nmole·L⁻¹h⁻¹ for β-carotene capsules. For lutein, the apparent mean uptakes were 5.6 ± 4 and 6.7 ± 4nmole·L⁻¹h⁻¹, for the raw and cooked, respectively. It was concluded that the relative loading of β-carotene onto TRLs is favored over that of lutein and that absorbability of these arugula carotenoids by normal adults is substantial.

KEYWORDS:

• β-carotene
• bioavailability
• Eruca sativa
• lipoproteins
• lutein

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank FAPESP for the financial support through the ‘PRONEX’ project and the National Research Council (CNPq) for the doctoral fellowship to EMMT.

Notes

Tassi, E. M. M. (2001). Ph.D. Thesis: Caracterização química, atividade da lipoxigenase e biodisponibilidade de carotenóides da rúcula (Eruca sativa). Campinas –SP, Brazil.