Abstract:
-cryptoxanthin (-CX), belonging to the xanthophyll sub-class of carotenoids, is mainly found in citrus fruit in both free and ester forms.
Due to the lack of knowledge on the intestinal uptake of -CX, especially the ester forms, our purpose was to study the bioaccessibility of carotenoids from citrus juice.
Carotenoid uptake was evaluated by incorporating carotenoid-rich micelles (from the in vitro digestion) or synthetic micelles (made from synthetic lipids and carotenoids purified from citrus juice) to human intestinal cells (Caco-2 TC7 clone). The uptake efficiency of -CX esters was compared to free -CX. Our results suggested that esters were partially hydrolyzed during the in vitro digestion.
The bioaccessibility of free -CX exceeded that of -carotene and -CX esters.
These results showed a preferential uptake by Caco-2 cells of -carotene and free -CX compared to the two esters for all types of micelles tested.
In the case of micelles from in vitro digestion, the uptake of -carotene, free -CX and -CX esters by Caco-2 cells was 14.3 ± 1.8; 3.9 ± 0.9; 0.7 ± 0.08 The present study provides the first report on assessment of -CX (free and esters) uptake by differentiated Caco-2 cells.