American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 59, 1369-1375, Copyright © 1994 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc

ORIGINAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

Plasma response of children to short-term chronic beta-carotene supplementation

J Bulux, J Quan de Serrano, A Giuliano, R Perez, CY Lopez, C Rivera, NW Solomons and LM Canfield
Department of Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721.

Plasma concentrations of beta-carotene and retinol after supplementation of children with beta-carotene in supplements and in foods were compared in Guatemalan children. The children received 6 mg/d beta-carotene [1000 retinol equivalents (RE)] as purified supplements or as carrots for 20 d and the effects on plasma beta- carotene and retinol concentrations were assessed. Plasma concentrations of beta-carotene were increased by 0.59 +/- 0.65 and 0.60 +/- 0.67 mumol/L after supplementation with beta-carotene capsules for 10 and 20 d, respectively. Addition of cooked carrots to the diet resulted in no significant change in plasma beta-carotene. Fasting plasma retinol concentrations were 1.23 +/- 0.35 mumol/L and were not significantly changed in response to supplementation with either of the carotene treatments with retinyl palmitate (1000 RE/d) for 20 d. Possible explanations for the differences in effects of plasma concentrations between the two methods of supplementation are discussed.

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