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β-Carotene–vitamin A equivalence in Chinese adults assessed by an isotope dilution technique

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Zhixu Wang ,
Shian Yin ,
Xianfeng Zhao ,
Robert M. Russell  and
Guangwen Tang
Zhixu Wang*
Affiliation:
National Institute for Nutrition and Food Safety, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Room 202, 29 Nanwei Road, Xuanwu District, Beijing, China100050 Institute of Medical Nutrition, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao, China266021
Shian Yin
Affiliation:
National Institute for Nutrition and Food Safety, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Room 202, 29 Nanwei Road, Xuanwu District, Beijing, China100050
Xianfeng Zhao
Affiliation:
National Institute for Nutrition and Food Safety, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Room 202, 29 Nanwei Road, Xuanwu District, Beijing, China100050
Robert M. Russell
Affiliation:
Jean Mayer US Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA02111
Guangwen Tang
Affiliation:
Jean Mayer US Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA02111
*
*Corresponding author: Dr Zhixu Wang, fax +86 10 6301 1875, email zxwong@public.qd.sd.cn
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Abstract

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The present study was carried out to determine the conversion factor of synthetic 2H-labelled β-carotene to vitamin A in Chinese adults by using a stable-isotope dilution technique. Fifteen healthy volunteers aged 50–60 years were recruited for a 55 d experiment. The volunteers (nine males and six females) were each given a physiological dose of [2H8]β-carotene (6 mg) in oil on the first day of the experiment, and a reference dose of [2H8]retinyl acetate (3 mg) in oil was given on the fourth day. Serum samples were collected at 0, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13 h on the first and the fourth days of the study, daily for 10 d, and then weekly from days 14 to 56. β-Carotene and retinol were extracted from serum and isolated by HPLC, and their enrichments were respectively determined by using GC–electron capture negative chemical ionisation-MS and LC–atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation interface-MS. Four of the subjects exhibited β-carotene to vitamin A conversion factors of >29·0:1 on a molar basis and were termed ‘poor converters’. In the eleven normal converters (seven males and four females), the calculated conversion factors of β-carotene to retinol ranged from 2·0:1 to 12·2:1 with an average of 4·8 (sd 2·8):1 on a molar basis, and from 3·8:1 to 22·8:1 with an average of 9·1 (sd 5·3):1 on a weight basis. The 52 d post-intestinal absorption conversion was estimated to be about 30 % of the total converted retinol.

Keywords

β-CaroteneVitamin ABiological conversion efficiencyIsotope dilution technique
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 91 , Issue 1 , January 2004 , pp. 121 - 131
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2004

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