BACKGROUND: Spirulina is a high-protein food supplement that contains carotenoids. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine the vitamin A equivalence of spirulina beta-carotene in humans. DESIGN: Spirulina was grown in a 23 atom% (2)H(2)O cultural solution. Spirulina beta-carotene showed the greatest enrichment as [(2)H(10)]trans beta-carotene. Ten healthy Chinese men with a mean (+/-SD) serum retinol concentration of 1.7 +/- 0.3 micromol/L and a body mass index (in kg/m(2)) of 23 +/- 3 consumed 5.8 micromol [(13)C(10)]retinyl acetate in oil as a reference dose with a breakfast containing 13 g fat. One week later, each subject consumed 7.9 mumol trans beta-carotene in spirulina with a breakfast containing 22 g fat. All subjects followed diets low in carotenoid and vitamin A. Forty blood samples were collected from each subject over a span of 56 d. Concentrations and enrichments of retinol and beta-carotene in serum samples were determined by using HPLC and a mass spectrometer. RESULTS: Compared with the serum response to [(13)C(10)]retinyl acetate dose, the mean conversion factor of spirulina beta-carotene to retinol was 4.5 +/- 1.6 (range: 2.3-6.9) by weight. It was estimated that 80% of the conversion occurred within the first 24 h after spirulina administration. CONCLUSION: In a group of well-nourished, normal-weight Chinese men following low-vitamin A diets, 4.5 mg spirulina beta-carotene consumed with 22 g fat has the same vitamin A activity as does 1 mg retinyl acetate.
BACKGROUND: Spirulina is a high-protein food supplement that contains carotenoids. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine the vitamin A equivalence of spirulina beta-carotene in humans. DESIGN: Spirulina was grown in a 23 atom% (2)H(2)O cultural solution. Spirulina beta-carotene showed the greatest enrichment as [(2)H(10)]trans beta-carotene. Ten healthy Chinese men with a mean (+/-SD) serum retinol concentration of 1.7 +/- 0.3 micromol/L and a body mass index (in kg/m(2)) of 23 +/- 3 consumed 5.8 micromol [(13)C(10)]retinyl acetate in oil as a reference dose with a breakfast containing 13 g fat. One week later, each subject consumed 7.9 mumol trans beta-carotene in spirulina with a breakfast containing 22 g fat. All subjects followed diets low in carotenoid and vitamin A. Forty blood samples were collected from each subject over a span of 56 d. Concentrations and enrichments of retinol and beta-carotene in serum samples were determined by using HPLC and a mass spectrometer. RESULTS: Compared with the serum response to [(13)C(10)]retinyl acetate dose, the mean conversion factor of spirulina beta-carotene to retinol was 4.5 +/- 1.6 (range: 2.3-6.9) by weight. It was estimated that 80% of the conversion occurred within the first 24 h after spirulina administration. CONCLUSION: In a group of well-nourished, normal-weight Chinese men following low-vitamin A diets, 4.5 mg spirulina beta-carotene consumed with 22 g fat has the same vitamin A activity as does 1 mg retinyl acetate.
Authors: Nancy J Engelmann; Jessica K Campbell; Randy B Rogers; S Indumathie Rupassara; Peter J Garlick; Mary Ann Lila; John W Erdman Journal: J Agric Food Chem Date: 2010-09-22 Impact factor: 5.279
Authors: Tilman Grune; Georg Lietz; Andreu Palou; A Catharine Ross; Wilhelm Stahl; Guangweng Tang; David Thurnham; Shi-an Yin; Hans K Biesalski Journal: J Nutr Date: 2010-10-27 Impact factor: 4.798
Authors: Tawanda Muzhingi; Tendekayi H Gadaga; Andrew H Siwela; Michael A Grusak; Robert M Russell; Guangwen Tang Journal: Am J Clin Nutr Date: 2011-06-29 Impact factor: 7.045
Authors: Guangwen Tang; Jian Qin; Gregory G Dolnikowski; Robert M Russell; Michael A Grusak Journal: Am J Clin Nutr Date: 2009-04-15 Impact factor: 7.045
Authors: Guangwen Tang; Yuming Hu; Shi-an Yin; Yin Wang; Gerard E Dallal; Michael A Grusak; Robert M Russell Journal: Am J Clin Nutr Date: 2012-08-01 Impact factor: 7.045