Provitamin A carotenoids from an engineered high-carotenoid maize are bioavailable and zeaxanthin does not compromise β-carotene absorption in poultry

摘要: High-carotenoid (HC) maize, a biofortified staple crop which accumulates β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin, was used as feed component in chicken feeding trial to assess the bioavailability of provitamin A (PVA) carotenoids kernel matrix compared synthetic natural color additives routinely poultry industry. We found that PVA HC maize were not metabolized same manner: β-carotene preferentially converted into retinol intestine whereas β-cryptoxanthin accumulated liver. also considered effect zeaxanthin on absorption because is major carotenoid maize. chickens fed diets with low levels higher liver, suggesting might interfere although this observation statistically significant. Our results show provides bioavailable carotenoids, including suitable for use component.