Association between carotenoids and the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies mainly concentrated on examining the correlation between single carotenoids and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, these findings have been inconsistent. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate both the individual and overall associations of carotenoids with the prevalence of COPD. METHODS: This study comprised 2,939 participants chosen from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-2018. The logistic regression, quantile-based G-computation regression (qgcomp), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were employed to explore the association between carotenoids and the prevalence of COPD. Mediation analyses were also conducted to explore the underlying mechanism of carotenoids on COPD. RESULTS: Individuals diagnosed with COPD had significantly lower serum carotenoid concentrations than those without COPD. We found a negative relationship between combined carotenoids and the prevalence of COPD, and lutein and zeaxanthin and alpha cryptoxanthin were identified as the main contributors to this negative association. Moreover, eosinophil acted as a mediator in the relationship between lutein and zeaxanthin, alpha cryptoxanthin, and the prevalence of COPD, with mediating proportions of 2.75 % and 3.67 %. CONCLUSION: A negative association was observed between combined carotenoids and COPD prevalence, with lutein and zeaxanthin, and alpha cryptoxanthin identified as the main contributors. Eosinophils could potentially mediate the association between carotenoids and COPD.

Carotenoid degradation rate in milled grain of dent maize hybrids and its relationship with the grain physicochemical properties.

Carotenoids in maize grain degrade during storage, but the relationship between their stability and the physicochemical properties of the grain is unclear. Therefore, the carotenoid degradation rate in milled grain of three dent hybrids differing in grain hardness was evaluated at various temperatures (-20, 4 and 22 °C). The carotenoid degradation rate was calculated using first-order kinetics based on the content in the samples after 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, 56, 70 and 90 days of storage and related to the physicochemical properties of the grain. The highest grain hardness was found in the hybrid with the highest zein and endosperm lipid concentration, while the lowest grain hardness was found in the hybrid with the highest amylose content and the specific surface area of starch granule (SSA). As expected, carotenoids in milled maize grain were most stable at -20 °C, followed by storage at 4 and 22 °C. Tested hybrids differed in the degradation rate of zeaxanthin, α-cryptoxanthin and ß-carotene, and these responses were also temperature-dependent. In contrast, all hybrids showed similar degradation rate for lutein and ß-cryptoxanthin regardless of the storage temperature. Averaged over the hybrids, the degradation rate for individual carotenoids ranked as follows: lutein < zeaxanthin < α-cryptoxanthin < ß-cryptoxanthin < ß-carotene. The lower degradation rate for most carotenoids was mainly associated with a higher content of zein and specific endosperm lipids, with the exception of zeaxanthin, which showed an opposite pattern of response. Degradation rate for lutein and zeaxanthin negatively correlated with SSA, but interestingly, small starch granules were positively associated with higher degradation rate for mostcarotenoids. Dent-type hybrids may differ significantly in carotenoid degradation rate, which was associated with specific physicochemical properties of the maize grain.

The association between carotenoids and subjects with overweight or obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Excess body weight, including overweight and obesity, is one of the major factors influencing human health, and plays an important role in the global burden of disease. Carotenoids serve as precursors of vitamin A-related retinoids, and are considered to have potential effects on many diseases. However, the influence of carotenoids on people with excess body weight is unclear. METHODS: This meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effects of carotenoids on overweight or obese subjects utilizing the available evidence. We searched PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and EMBASE databases up to September 2020. Random effects models were used to calculate the standard mean differences (SMDs) and odds ratios (ORs) with their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). RESULTS: A total of seven randomized controlled trials and eight observational studies met the inclusion criteria and contained 28 944 subjects and data on multiple carotenoid subgroups, including lycopene, astaxanthin, cryptoxanthin, α-carotene, and ß-carotene. In all included Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT), the intervention duration was 20 days at the shortest and 16 weeks at the longest, and the range of intervention doses was 1.2-60 mg d-1. Our study found that the insufficiency of serum carotenoids was a risk factor for overweight and obesity (OR = 1.73, 95% CI [1.57, 1.91], p < 0.001). Moreover, carotenoid supplementation was significantly associated with body weight reductions (SMD = -2.34 kg, 95% CI [-3.80, -0.87] kg, p < 0.001), body mass index decrease (BMI, SMD = -0.95 kg cm-2, 95% CI [-1.88, -0.01] kg cm-2, p < 0.001) and waist circumference losses (WC, SMD = -1.84 cm, 95% CI [-3.14, -0.54]cm, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In summary, the carotenoids show promising effects in overweight or obese subjects. Additional data from large clinical trials are needed.

Single oral ß-cryptoxanthin administration increases its serum concentration and enhances peripheral blood neutrophil function in Holstein cattle.

We investigated the effect of oral administration of ß-cryptoxanthin (ß-CRX) on its serum concentration and peripheral neutrophil functions by the chemiluminescence (CL) response in Holstein cattle. A single oral administration of ß-CRX was performed for serum ß-CRX concentration (0, 0.05, 0.1, or 0.2 mg/kg body weight [BW]) and for peak CL response of peripheral neutrophils (0.2 mg/kg BW). The serum ß-CRX concentration was peaked on 2 days after, similar to peak CL response on 3 days after ß-CRX administration. Therefore, a single oral administration of ß-CRX (0.2 mg/kg BW) induces higher serum concentration and concurrently enhances bactericidal ability of peripheral neutrophils in Holstein cattle.

Harvesting time and roasting effects on colour properties, xanthophylls, phytates, tannins and vitamin C contents of orange maize hybrid.

Biofortified maize varieties form an essential part of a nutritious diet; available evidence suggests that different processing methods may affect the final food products. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of processing (roasting) and harvesting time on the bioactive components (lutein, zeaxanthin, ß-cryptoxanthin, phytate, tannin and vitamin C) and colour properties (L*, a*, b*), of biofortified orange maize. The orange maize hybrids used for the study were obtained from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) diverse lines with high provitamin A (PVA) content. The results showed that harvesting time and roasting methods significantly (P ≤ 0.001) affected the colour properties. The positive values of ∆b* 30.7, 36.0 and 38.1 at 20 days after pollination (DAP), 27DAP and 34DAP, respectively showed that the intensity of orange colour increased with delay in harvesting time. In unprocessed freshly harvested orange hybrid maize; lutein, zeaxanthin, ß-cryptoxanthin, tannin and vitamin C increased with an increase in harvesting time. For roasted hybrid, the mean concentrations of all the bioactive components increased with increases in harvesting time except for tannin and vitamin C that showed a decrease at 20DAP and 27DAP. The results revealed that processing and time of harvest affect the levels of non-provitamin A carotenoids, tannins, phytic acid, Vitamin C and the colour properties of biofortified maize genotypes.

Evaluation of the bioaccessibility of carotenoid esters from Lycium barbarum L. in nano-emulsions: A kinetic approach.

Lycium barbarum L., known as goji berry, is a rich source of carotenoid esters, which are mainly composed of zeaxanthin dipalmitate (ZDP), lutein palmitate (LP), ß-cryptoxanthin palmitate (ß-CP), zeaxanthin palmitate (ZP), zeaxanthin myristate palmitate (ZMP), and zeaxanthin palmitate stearate (ZPS). Oil-in-water nano-emulsions containing carotenoid esters from L. barbarum L. with olive oil (ON) and soybean oil (SN) were prepared to investigate the liberation and bioaccessibility (BA) of in vitro digestion. The particle sizes of ON and SN were approximately 160 nm stabilized with sucrose esters and monoacylglyceride as emulsifiers. ON presented an equal liberation of each carotenoid ester as SN, except that LP had a high value. Incorporation of carotenoid esters into the micelle were evaluated using a fractional conversion model, containing two phases, namely, a rapid growth rate for the first phase, and then reaching a plateau for the second phase. The kinetic rate was related to the particle size, oil type and carotenoid ester nature. BA at plateau values for ZDP and ZPS were higher than that of the four other carotenoid esters in SN. Considering the great improvement of the liberation and BA, the excipient nano-emulsion prepared in this study is a good delivery system for carotenoid esters from goji berry.

Functional Identification of Two Types of Carotene Hydroxylases from the Green Alga Dunaliella bardawil Rich in Lutein.

The salt-tolerant unicellular alga Dunaliella bardawil FACHB-847 can accumulate large amounts of lutein, but the underlying cause of massive accumulation of lutein is still unknown. In this study, genes encoding two types of carotene hydroxylases, i.e., ß-carotene hydroxylase (DbBCH) and cytochrome P450 carotenoid hydroxylase (DbCYP97s; DbCYP97A, DbCYP97B, and DbCYP97C), were cloned from D. bardawil. Their substrate specificities and enzyme activities were tested through functional complementation assays in Escherichia coli. It was showed that DbBCH could catalyze the hydroxylation of the ß-rings of both ß- and α-carotene, and displayed a low level of ε-hydroxylase. Unlike CYP97A from higher plants, DbCYP97A could not hydroxylate ß-carotene. DbCYP97A and DbCYP97C showed high hydroxylase activity toward the ß-ring and ε-ring of α-carotene, respectively. DbCYP97B displayed minor activity toward the ß-ring of α-carotene. The high accumulation of lutein in D. bardawil may be due to the multiple pathways for lutein biosynthesis generated from α-carotene with zeinoxanthin or α-cryptoxanthin as intermediates by DbBCH and DbCYP97s. Taken together, this study provides insights for understanding the underlying reason for high production of lutein in the halophilic green alga D. bardawil FACHB-847.

Accomplished High-Resolution Metabolomic and Molecular Studies Identify New Carotenoid Biosynthetic Reactions in Cyanobacteria.

Cyanobacteria and microalgae are characterized by a rich and varied profile of chlorophyll (8-20 mg/g) and carotenoid (>2.2 mg/g) pigments, being noteworthy material for natural pigment production in the food industry. We propose a systematic workflow that uses high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry in a broadband collision-induced dissociation mode (bbCID) acquisition mode to simultaneously obtain MS and MSn spectra. Metabolomic studies showed for the first time the presence of carotenoids with 5,6-epoxy-groups (5,6-epoxy- and 5,8-furanoid ß-cryptoxanthin), carotenoids from the α-branch (5,8-furanoid-2'-3'-didehydro α-cryptoxanthin), and 2'-dehydrodeoxomyxol in cyanobacteria. To support the new findings, an in silico search retrieved the putative sequences of carotenogenic enzymes involved in the corresponding biosynthetic pathways (ZEP, NSY, CrtL-b and CrtR) in the analyzed cyanobacteria species. Consequently, high-throughput metabolomics studies assisted by molecular analysis offer a powerful tool for providing insights into the characterization of bioactive compounds and their metabolism in cyanobacteria and microalgae.

Associations between serum carotenoid levels and the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a case-control study.

Limited studies have investigated the effects of serum carotenoids on the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), and the findings have been inconclusive. This study aims to assess the association between serum total or specific carotenoid levels and NHL risk. This 1:1 matched, hospital-based case-control study enrolled 512 newly diagnosed (within 1 month) NHL patients and 512 healthy controls who were matched by age (±5 years) and sex in Urumqi, China. Serum carotenoid levels were measured by HPLC. Conditional logistic regression showed that higher serum total carotenoid levels and their subtypes (e.g. α-carotene, ß-carotene, ß-cryptoxanthin and lycopene) were dose-dependently associated with decreased NHL risk. The multivariable-adjusted OR and their 95 % CI for NHL risk for quartile 4 (v. quartile 1) were 0·31 (95 % CI 0·22, 0·48; Pfor trend < 0·001) for total carotenoids, 0·52 (95 % CI 0·33, 0·79; Pfor trend: 0·003) for α-carotene, 0·63 (95 % CI 0·42, 0·94; Pfor trend: 0·031) for ß-carotene, 0·73 (95 % CI 0·49, 1·05; Pfor trend: 0·034) for ß-cryptoxanthin and 0·51 (95 % CI 0·34, 0·75; Pfor trend: 0·001) for lycopene. A null association was observed between serum lutein + zeaxanthin and NHL risk (OR 0·89, 95 % CI 0·57, 1·38; Pfor trend: 0·556). Significant interactions were observed after stratifying according to smoking status, and inverse associations were more evident among current smokers than past or never smokers for total carotenoids, α-carotene and lycopene (Pfor heterogeneity: 0·047, 0·042 and 0·046). This study indicates that higher serum carotenoid levels might be inversely associated with NHL risk, especially among current smokers.

Esterified carotenoids as new food components in cyanobacteria.

Among the nutritional properties of microalgae, this study is focused in the presence of carotenoid esters in prokaryote microalgae, an event that has not been shown so far. Three carotenoid esters that accumulate in non-stressful culture conditions are identified in Aphanotece microscopica Nägeli and Phormidum autumnale Gomont, what may provide an extra value to the quality attributes of the carotenoid profile in cyanobacteria as functional foods. In addition, new data on the carotenoid characterization added quality criteria for the identification of the esterified metabolites, enabling the monitoring of these food components. Specifically, the metabolomic approach applied to the food composition analysis, has allowed to differentiate between the esters of zeinoxanthin and ß-cryptoxanthin, which were undifferentiated to date during the MS characterization of carotenoids in other food sources. We propose a new qualifier product ion specific for zeinoxanthin ester, which it is not present in the MS2 spectrum of ß-cryptoxanthin esters.

Marigold carotenoids: Much more than lutein esters.

Carotenoids constitute a large group of lipophilic pigments whose health-promoting benefits have been widely recognized. Hydroxy-containing carotenoids can be found in both free form or esterified with fatty acids in several plant matrices, but the native carotenoid profile is overall poorly explored due to the difficulty of analyzing carotenoid esters. One of the main natural sources of carotenoids is the marigold flower, which has been extensively used by the industry for the production of food colorants or supplements, both often manufactured with no saponification process. Although lutein esters are well established as the major compounds naturally found in marigold petals and their products, carotenoid esters other than the lutein ones have not been extensively examined. We carried out a comprehensive identification of carotenoids and carotenoid esters from marigold petals by LC-DAD-(APCI+)MS/MS. Whereas 18 carotenoids were identified in the saponified extract, 56 were identified when no saponification procedure was carried out: 6 free carotenoids, 20 monoesters and 30 diesters. This is the first time that esters of zeaxanthin, violaxanthin, auroxanthin, zeinoxanthin and ß-cryptoxanthin are identified in marigold. The structural information obtained through characteristic fragmentation patterns and diagnostic fragments in MS and MS/MS spectra (APCI+) sustained the differentiation between carotenoid esters with similar characteristics. Therefore, the separation of carotenoids by reversed-phase liquid chromatography using C30 columns in combination with DAD and APCI-MS/MS detection allowed high sensitivity and selectivity for carotenoid ester analysis.

Dietary Antioxidant Intake in Relation to Semen Quality Parameters in Infertile Men: a Cross-Sectional Study

The objective of this study was to assess the association between dietary antioxidant intake and semen quality parameters in infertile men. In this cross-sectional study, dietary antioxidant intake was evaluated in 175 infertile Iranian men by a validated dish-based 106-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Men were asked to abstain from ejaculation for at least 72 hours before sample collection. Semen parameters were assessed by a sperm counting chamber and Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay methods. Linear quantile regression was used to determine the associations between antioxidant nutrient intake and semen quality parameters (including total sperm count, sperm density, total motility, DNA damage and DNA fragmentation). Mean age of study participants was 32.19 ± 2.34 years. Compared with the lowest quartile, men in the highest quartile of dietary β-carotene and vitamin C intake had lower sperm DNA fragmentation index (Ptrend = 0.042 and Ptrend = 0.03, respectively). Also, dietary intake of beta-cryptoxanthin had a positive association with sperm density (Ptrend = 0.02), and dietary lutein was associated with total sperm count (P(trend) = 0.045). Dietary intake of other antioxidants did not significantly correlate with the indicators related to the quantity and quality of sperm (p > 0.05). These data suggest that dietary intake of some of the antioxidants is associated with semen related parameters.

Serum Nutrient Levels and Aging Effects on Periodontitis.

Periodontal disease damages tissues as a result of dysregulated host responses against the chronic bacterial biofilm insult and approximately 50% of US adults >30 years old exhibit periodontitis. The association of five blood nutrients and periodontitis were evaluated due to our previous findings regarding a potential protective effect for these nutrients in periodontal disease derived from the US population sampled as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999⁻2004). Data from over 15,000 subjects was analyzed for blood levels of cis-ß-carotene, ß-cryptoxanthin, folate, vitamin D, and vitamin E, linked with analysis of the presence and severity of periodontitis. Moderate/severe disease patients had lower cis-ß-carotene levels across all racial/ethnic groups and these decreased levels in moderate/severe periodontitis were exacerbated with age. ß-cryptoxanthin demonstrated lower levels in severe disease patients across the entire age range in all racial/ethnic groups. Folate differences were evident across the various age groups with consistently lower levels in periodontitis patients >30 years and most pronounced in females. Lower levels of vitamin D were consistently noted across the entire age range of patients with a greater difference seen in females with periodontitis. Finally, an analytical approach to identify interactions among these nutrients related to age and periodontitis showed interactions of vitamin D in females, and folate with race in the population. These findings suggest that improving specific nutrient intake leading to elevated blood levels of a combination of these protective factors may provide a novel strategy to affect the significant increase in periodontitis that occurs with aging.

Chronic exposure to imidacloprid or thiamethoxam neonicotinoid causes oxidative damages and alters carotenoid-retinoid levels in caged honey bees (Apis mellifera).

Over the last decade, the persistent dwindling of the populations of honey bees has become a growing concern. While this phenomenon is partly attributed to neonicotinoids (NEOCs), chronic exposures to these insecticides at environmentally-relevant concentrations are needed to fully estimate their implications. In this study, honey bees were orally exposed for 10 days to low field-realistic concentrations of NEOCs known for their effects on the cholinergic system (imidacloprid - IMI or thiamethoxam - THM). Selected biomarkers were measured such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, lipid peroxidation (LPO), α-tocopherol as well as several forms of vitamin A (retinoids) and carotenoids. Bees exposed to IMI showed lower levels of two carotenoids (α-carotene and α-cryptoxanthin) and α-tocopherol. The THM exposure increased the oxidized vitamin A metabolites in bees conjointly with the LPO. These results could be the consequence of a pro-oxidant effect of NEOCs and were observed at levels where no effects were recorded for AChE activity. This study reveals that exposure to low levels of NEOCs alters the carotenoid-retinoid system in honey bees. This would merit further investigation as these compounds are important in various aspects of bees' health. Overall, this study contributes to the development of biomonitoring tools for the health of bees and other pollinators.

Serum Carotenoids Reveal Poor Fruit and Vegetable Intake among Schoolchildren in Burkina Faso.

The health benefits of fruits and vegetables are well-documented. Those rich in provitamin A carotenoids are good sources of vitamin A. This cross-sectional study indirectly assessed fruit and vegetable intakes using serum carotenoids in 193 schoolchildren aged 7 to 12 years in the Western part of Burkina Faso. The mean total serum carotenoid concentration was 0.23 ± 0.29 µmol/L, which included α- and ß-carotene, lutein, and ß-cryptoxanthin, and determined with serum retinol concentrations in a single analysis with high performance liquid chromatography. Serum retinol concentration was 0.80 ± 0.35 µmol/L with 46% of children (n = 88) having low values <0.7 µmol/L. Total serum carotene (the sum of α- and ß-carotene) concentration was 0.13 ± 0.24 µmol/L, well below the reference range of 0.9⁻3.7 µmol carotene/L used to assess habitual intake of fruits and vegetables. Individual carotenoid concentrations were determined for α-carotene (0.01 ± 0.05 µmol/L), ß-carotene (0.17 ± 0.24 µmol/L), ß-cryptoxanthin (0.07 ± 0.06 µmol/L), and lutein (0.06 ± 0.05 µmol/L). These results confirm the previously measured high prevalence of low serum vitamin A concentrations and adds information about low serum carotenoids among schoolchildren suggesting that they have low intakes of provitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables.

Transformation of naturally occurring (3R,3'R,6'R)-lutein and its fatty acid esters to (3 R)-ß-cryptoxanthin and (3R,6'R)-α-cryptoxanthin.

The objective of this study was to develop straightforward processes that could be applied to the large-scale production of ß-cryptoxanthin in an attempt to facilitate investigation of its biological activity. An oleoresin obtained from crude extracts of marigold flowers (Tagetes erecta) with approximately 24% total lutein fatty acid ester content was directly used as starting material for partial synthesis of (3 R)-ß-cryptoxanthin under mild reaction conditions at ambient temperature. Therefore, acid-catalyzed deoxygenation of lutein esters from marigold oleoresin followed by hydrogenation in the presence of catalytic amount of platinum (Pt) supported on alumina (5%) at ambient temperature gave a mixture of (3 R)-ß-cryptoxanthin fatty acid esters (major) and (3 R,6'R)-α-cryptoxanthin fatty acid esters (minor). Saponification and Z-to-E isomerization of the product followed by crystallization gave a mixture of (3 R)-ß-cryptoxanthin as the major product. Similarly, acid-catalyzed hydrogenation of unesterified (3 R,3'R,6'R)-lutein with Pt/alumina in ethyl acetate gave a mixture of (3 R,6'R)-α-cryptoxanthin acetate (minor) in a one-pot reaction. Alkaline hydrolysis and Z-to-E isomerization of the mixture followed by crystallization provided (3 R)-ß-cryptoxanthin.

Serum carotenoids and colorectal cancer risk: A case-control study in Guangdong, China.

SCOPE: Previous epidemiological studies on the association between circulating carotenoids and the risk of colorectal cancer drew inconclusive conclusions. This study aimed to examine serum carotenoids in relation to colorectal cancer risk in a Chinese population. METHODS AND RESULTS: One case-control study beginning from July 2010, consecutively recruited 538 eligible colorectal cancer cases and 564 age (5-year interval) and sex frequency-matched controls. Serum levels of α-carotene, ß-carotene, ß-cryptoxanthin, lycopene and lutein/zeaxanthin were detected by HPLC. Unconditional logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence internal (CI) after adjusting for various confounders. Serum levels of α-carotene, ß-cryptoxanthin and lycopene were found to be inversely associated with colorectal cancer risk. The adjusted ORs of the highest quartile relative to the lowest quartile serum level were 0.49 (95% CIs 0.33-0.72) for α-carotene, 0.44 (95% CIs 0.29-0.66) for ß-cryptoxanthin, and 0.36 (95% CIs 0.24-0.54) for lycopene, respectively. The association between serum ß-carotene, lutein/zeaxanthin and colorectal cancer risk was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that the incidence of colorectal cancer was associated with lower serum levels of α-carotene, ß-cryptoxanthin and lycopene among Chinese population residing in Guangdong.

Carotenoids of Red, Brown, and Black Specimens of Plectropomus leopardus, the Coral Trout (Suziara in Japanese).

This study investigated the carotenoids occurring in the integument of Plectropomus leopardus, the coral trout. For a red specimen, the major carotenoids included astaxanthin diester and monoester, as well as α-cryptoxanthin ester, tunaxanthin diester, adonixanthin diester, adonirubin ester, and adonirubin; for brown and black specimens, tunaxanthin diester was the main carotenoid. 1H-NMR and MS spectral analyses showed that docosahexaenoic acid was the sole fatty acid esterified with xanthophylls in the coral trout.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Insulin Resistance: New Insights and Potential New Treatments.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common chronic liver disorders worldwide. It is associated with clinical states such as obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes, and covers a wide range of liver changes, ranging from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Metabolic disorders, such as lipid accumulation, insulin resistance, and inflammation, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of NAFLD, but the underlying mechanisms, including those that drive disease progression, are not fully understood. Both innate and recruited immune cells mediate the development of insulin resistance and NASH. Therefore, modifying the polarization of resident and recruited macrophage/Kupffer cells is expected to lead to new therapeutic strategies in NAFLD. Oxidative stress is also pivotal for the progression of NASH, which has generated interest in carotenoids as potent micronutrient antioxidants in the treatment of NAFLD. In addition to their antioxidative function, carotenoids regulate macrophage/Kupffer cell polarization and thereby prevent NASH progression. In this review, we summarize the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of NAFLD, including macrophage/Kupffer cell polarization, and disturbed hepatic function in NAFLD. We also discuss dietary antioxidants, such as ß-cryptoxanthin and astaxanthin, that may be effective in the prevention or treatment of NAFLD.

Assessment of individual carotenoid and vitamin A dietary intake in overweight and obese Dominican subjects / Valoración de la ingesta individualizada de carotenoides y de vitamina A en sujetos dominicanos con sobrepeso y obesidad

Introduction: Carotenoids are plant pigment with important biological activities in humans, such as provitamin-A among others. At present, there are no individual carotenoid intake data in the Dominican population, which is at risk of vitamin A deficiency and has an important percentage of overweight and obese individuals. Objective: To assess the individual components of vitamin A intake (retinol, α-carotene, β-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin) and that of other relevant dietary carotenoids like lutein, zeaxanthin and lycopene of Dominican daily food intake. Methods: Fifty overweigth and obese subjects (22-69 y). Individual carotenoid intake, from whole diet and from the ingestion of fruits and vegetables, was determined using three 24 h diet recalls and a specific carotenoid database. Retinol, macronutrient and energy intake were calculated using DIAL® software. Results: The total carotenoid intake was 6363.2 μg/day, 56 .1% corresponding to provitamin A carotenoids (74.3% β-carotene). Vitamin A intake was supplied by retinol (40%) and by provitamin A carotenoids (60%); vegetables contributed more than fruits (39.2% and 19.2%, respectively). Non-provitamin A carotenoid intake represents 43.9% of the total intake and is supplied by lycopene and lutein plus zeaxanthin in similar percentages (52.3% and 47.7%, respectively). Conclusions: The diet of these Dominican subjets met the recommended vitamin A intake, when expressed as retinol equivalents, 59% of which was supplied by provitamin-A carotenoids from plant sources, mainly by red/orange and white/yellow foods. Individual carotenoid intake is an aspect of great interest for issuing dietary recommendations in the public health setting (AU)

Introducción: los carotenoides son pigmentos con importantes actividades biológicas en los seres humanos, entre las que detaca la actividad provitamínica A. No hay datos de ingesta de carotenoides en la población dominicana, en la que hay un elevado porcentaje de individuos con sobrepreso y obesidad, así como riesgo de deficiencia en vitamina A. Objetivo: valorar la ingesta de los componentes individuales de vitamina A (retinol, β-caroteno, α-caroteno, β-criptoxantina) y de otros carotenoides relevantes (licopeno, luteína, zeaxantina) en sujetos dominicanos. Métodos: cincuenta sujetos con sobrepeso y obesidad (22-69 años). Tres recuerdos de dieta de 24 h y una aplicación específica para carotenoides, para valorar ingesta de carotenoides a partir de la dieta total y de la ingesta de frutas y hortalizas. La ingesta de retinol, macronutrientes y energía se calcula utilizando la aplicación DIAL®. Resultados: la ingesta total de carotenoides fue 6363,2 μg/día, correspondiendo el 56,1% a carotenoides provitamina-A (74,3% β-caroteno). La ingesta de vitamina A procede del retinol (40%) y de los carotenoides provitamínicos (60%); las hortalizas contribuyeron más que las frutas (39,2% y 19,2%, respectivamente). Los carotenoides no-provitamínicos representaron el 43,9% de la ingesta total, con un aporte de licopeno y de luteína más zeaxantina en proporciones similares (52,3% y 47,7%, respectivamente). Conclusiones: la dieta de estos sujetos dominicanos cubre las recomendaciones de ingesta de vitamina A, expresada en equivalentes de retinol, siendo aportada por fuentes vegetales en un 59%, principalmente a partir de alimentos de colores rojo/anaranjado y blanco/amarillento. La ingesta individual de carotenoides es un aspecto de gran interés para emitir recomendaciones dietéticas en el ámbito de la salud pública (AU)