Chylomicron -Carotene and Retinyl Palmitate Responses Are Dramatically Diminished When Men Ingest -Carotene with Medium-Chain Rather than Long-Chain Triglycerides

Manuscript received 23 February 1998. Initial reviews completed 16 March 1998. Revision accepted 15 April 1998.

INRA, Unité des Maladies Métaboliques et Micronutriments, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand and ^* INSERM, Unité 130, Marseille, France

The effect of the ingestion of -carotene with medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) or long-chain triglycerides (LCT) on the bioavailability and the provitamin A activity of -carotene was investigated in humans. Sixteen healthy young men ingested, on two different days, a test meal containing 120 mg -carotene incorporated into 40 g LCT (LCT meal) or 40 g MCT (MCT meal). This meal was followed 6 h later by a -carotene-free meal containing 40 g LCT. Chylomicron -carotene, retinyl palmitate and triglycerides were measured every hour for 12.5 h after the first meal. No significant increase in chylomicron triglycerides was detected for the 6 h after the MCT meal intake, whereas a significant increase in chylomicron triglycerides was observed after the LCT meal intake. The chylomicron -carotene and retinyl palmitate responses to the MCT meal (0-6 h area under the curves, AUC) were significantly (P < 0.05) lower [AUC = 68.1 ± 26.8 and 43.4 ± 10.4 nmol/(L·h), for -carotene and retinyl palmitate, respectively] than those obtained after the LCT meal [301.4 ± 64.0 and 166.0 ± 29.0 nmol/(L·h), respectively]. The chylomicron -carotene and retinyl palmitate responses obtained after the -carotene-free meal (6-12.5 h AUC) were also significantly lower when the first meal provided MCT rather than LCT. The chylomicron (retinyl palmitate/-carotene) ratios were constant during the postprandial periods, whatever the meal ingested. We conclude that the chylomicron -carotene response is markedly diminished when -carotene is absorbed with MCT instead of LCT. This phenomenon is apparently due to the lack of secretion of chylomicrons in response to MCT; however, a lower intestinal absorption of -carotene or a higher transport of -carotene via the portal way in the presence of MCT cannot be ruled out. Finally, the data obtained show that MCT do not affect the rate of intestinal conversion of -carotene into vitamin A.

The Journal of Nutrition Vol. 128 No. 8 August 1998, pp. 1361-1367
Copyright ©1998 by the American Society for Nutritional Sciences

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