Β‐Carotene Bioavailability and Conversion Efficiency Are Significantly Affected by Sex in Rats: First Observation Suggesting a Possible Hormetic Regulation of Vitamin A Metabolism in Female Rats. Issue 22 (19th October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Borel, Patrick; Troadec, Romane; Damiani, Morgane; Halimi, Charlotte; Nowicki, Marion; Guichard, Philippe; Margier, Marielle; Astier, Julien; Grino, Michel; Reboul, Emmanuelle; Landrier, Jean‐François
• Is Part Of: Molecular nutrition & food research. Volume 65:Issue 22(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-10-19
• Subjects: bioavailability -- intestine -- retinol -- retinyl esters -- β‐carotene; Food -- Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Food -- Microbiology -- Periodicals; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Food -- Toxicology -- Periodicals; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Food Microbiology -- Periodicals; Food Technology -- Periodicals; Molecular Biology -- Periodicals; 664.0705
• DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.202100650
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1613-4125

Abstract

Abstract : Scope: To study the effect of variation in dietary vitamin A (VA) content on its hepatic and intestinal metabolism. Methods and Results: Adult female and male rats are fed with diets containing 400, 2300, or 9858 IU kg −1 VA for 31–33 weeks. VA concentrations are measured in plasma and liver. Bioavailability and intestinal conversion efficiency of β‐carotene to VA are assessed by measuring postprandial plasma β‐carotene and retinyl palmitate concentrations after force‐feeding rats with β‐carotene. Expression of genes involved in VA metabolism, together with concentrations of RBP4, BCO1, and SR‐BI proteins, are measured in the intestine and liver of female rats. Plasma retinol concentrations are lower and hepatic free retinol concentrations are higher in females than in males. There is no effect of dietary VA content on β‐carotene bioavailability and its conversion efficiency, but bioavailability is higher and conversion efficiency is lower in females than in males. The expression of most genes exhibited a U‐shaped dose response curve depending on VA intake. Conclusions: β‐Carotene bioavailability and conversion efficiency to VA are affected by the sex of rats. Results of gene expression suggest a hormetic regulation of VA metabolism in female rats. Abstract : The bioavailability of β‐carotene (β‐C) is higher in female rats than in males, while the opposite is true for the conversion rate of this provitamin A carotenoid into vitamin A (VA).