Use of Carotenoids

Abstract

Apart from synthetic vitamin A and pre-formed vitamin A contained in milk, eggs, liver and fish liver oils and their derivatives, the main source of supply of this vitamin for man and the farm animal is the so-called provitamin A present in plants and belonging to the group of carotenes and related carotenoids. In fact, $β$-carotene is the most important vitamin A precursor in human nutrition and in animal rations, since its presence in food and feed ingredients, particularly of leafy origin, greatly exceeds in concentration the other vitamin A active compounds. Cryptoxanthin is present in yellow corn (maize) and contributes significant vitamin A activity when high levels of yellow corn are used in animal rations.