Author
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Burri, Betty |
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Submitted to: Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2014 Publication Date: 11/5/2014 Citation: Burri, B.J. 2014. Beta-Cryptoxanthin as a source of Vitamin A.. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 95(9):1786-1794. DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.6942. Interpretive Summary: Beta-cryptoxanthin is found in fruits and vegetables. Good sources of beta-cryptoxanthin include tangerines, persimmons, and oranges. Beta-cryptoxanthin may be important for human health, since it has roles in antioxidant defense and can form vitamin A. Vitamin A is an essential nutrient needed for eyesight, growth, development, and immune response. We evaluate the evidence for how well beta-cryptoxanthin forms vitamin A. Studies suggest that beta-cryptoxanthin has great bioavailability from common foods compared to alpha- and beta-carotene. However, beta-cryptoxanthin appears to be a poorer substrate for cleavage enzymes. Animal model and human studies suggest that the comparatively high bioavailability of beta-cryptoxanthin from foods make beta-cryptoxanthin-rich foods equivalent to beta-carotene-rich foods as sources of vitamin A. These results mean that beta-cryptoxanthin-rich foods are probably better sources of vitamin A, and more important for human health in general, than previously assumed. Technical Abstract: Beta-cryptoxanthin is a common carotenoid that is found in fruit, and in human blood and tissues. Foods that are rich in beta-cryptoxanthin include tangerines, persimmons, and oranges. Beta-cryptoxanthin has several functions that are important for human health, including roles in antioxidant defense and cell-to-cell communications. Most importantly, beta-cryptoxanthin is a precursor of vitamin A, which is an essential nutrient needed for eyesight, growth, development, and immune response. We evaluate the evidence for beta-cryptoxanthin as a vitamin A-forming carotenoid in this paper. Observational, in vitro, animal model and human studies suggest that beta-cryptoxanthin has greater bioavailability from its common food sources then do alpha- and beta-carotene from theirs. Although beta-cryptoxanthin appears to be a poorer substrate for 15, 15’ beta-carotene oxygenase than beta-carotene is, animal model and human studies suggest that the comparatively high bioavailability of beta-cryptoxanthin from foods make beta-cryptoxanthin-rich foods equivalent to beta-carotene-rich foods as sources of vitamin A. These results mean that beta-cryptoxanthin-rich foods are probably better sources of vitamin A, and more important for human health in general, than previously assumed. |
