Plasma β-carotene response in humans after meals supplemented with dietary pectin

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of pectin on plasma response to β-carotene in humans. Using a crossover design, we evaluated the effect on plasma β-carotene in seven subjects when 12 g citrus pectin was added to a 2092 kJ (500 kcal) controlled meal with 25 mg β-carotene. Plasma samples were collected at 0, 8, 30, 48, and 192 h after the meals. Plasma β-carotene was quantified with the use of HPLC. The increase in plasma β-carotene concentration was significantly reduced by pectin at 30 and 192 h (paired t test; P < 0.005 and < 0.05, respectively). Mean percent increase in plasma β-carotene concentration at 30 h after the meal with β-carotene was reduced by more than one-half when pectin was added to the meal. These results indicate that the inhibitory effect of pectin may provide one explanation for observations of reduced plasma β-carotene response in humans after the ingestion of carotenoid-rich foods when compared with equivalent doses of β-carotene supplements.