The CARO Study - Bioefficacy of Beta-Carotene in Oil and in a Mixed Diet in Healthy Subjects

Overview

A controlled dietary intervention study will be carried out based on the stable isotope method the investigators have developed to quantify both the absorption of beta-carotene and its bioconversion to retinol in oil and in a mixed diet. For 6 weeks the participants will consume 2 capsules/day, 7 days/week with each capsule containing 50-mg \[13C10\] beta-carotene and 50-mg \[13C10\] retinyl palmitate. For three weeks they will consume a diet with high levels of beta-carotene in vegetables and fruits and for the other 3 weeks they will consume a diet with low levels of beta-carotene in vegetables and fruits supplemented with an extra amount of beta-carotene in oil. Samples of blood and faeces will be taken. The study hypothesis is that the absorption of beta-carotene in oil in comparison with the absorption of beta-carotene in a mixed diet differs by a factor of 3 to 6. The investigators want to measure the influence of the food matrix of vegetables and fruits on the absorption of beta-carotene in healthy humans on a western diet.

Conditions

Interventions