To com
pare the in vitro bioaccessibility of lutein, zeaxanthin,
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-cry
ptoxanthin, lyco
pene, and
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pha.gif" BORDER=0>-and
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-carotenes from relevant dietary contributors, a gastrointestinal model was used to assess the stability,isomerization, carotenol ester hydrolysis, and micellarization. Salivar, gastric, duodenal, and micellar
phases were extracted, with and without sa
ponification, and analyzed by using a quality-controlledHPLC method. The stability of carotenoids under digestion conditions was >75%, regardless of thefood analyzed, whereas micellarization ranged from 5 to 100%, de
pending on the carotenoid andthe food.
cis-Isomers were maintained in
processed foods, but increased in fresh foods. Xantho
phyllester hydrolysis was incom
plete (<40%), and both free and ester forms were incor
porated intosu
pernatants, regardless of the xantho
phyll involved and the food assessed. In vitro bioaccesibilityvaries widely both for different carotenoids in a given food and for a given carotenoid in differentfoods. Although in vitro bioaccesibility may not be enough to
predict the in vivo bioavailability, it maybe relevant for the food industry and for food-based dietary guidelines.