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M. G. FERRUZZI, Dept. of Food Science, Purdue Univ., 745 Agriculture Mall Dr., West Lafayette, IN 47907-2009 Associations between consumption of carotenoid and chlorophyll-rich foods and health benefits have stimulated interest in patterns of consumption, bioavailability, and physiological behavior of these pigments in humans. Carotenoids and chlorophylls have demonstrated physiological activities, such as antioxidant and antimutagenic activity, consistent with prevention and control of many degenerative diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular disorders. While these results have been promising, our knowledge on human digestion, absorption, and metabolism of these plant pigments remains incomplete. Understanding human digestive behavior of these pigments is critical to better define biologically relevant forms, their absorptive potential and measures of physiological significance. Application of both in vitro and in vivo techniques to investigate human digestion and bioavailability of dietary carotenoids and chlorophylls will be discussed. Use of a two stage in vitro digestion coupled to a Caco-2 human intestinal cell culture model will be described as a primary tool in systematic study of three parameters essential to ultimate physiological significance: digestive stability, transfer of lipophilic pigments from the food matrix to mixed micelles (bioaccessibility), and uptake by human intestinal cells. Digestive stability is crucial in determination of digestive loss and identification of new biologically relevant forms. Understanding factors which modulate bioaccessibility are critical in optimization of ultimate bioavailability for these pigments. Quantification of carotenoids in plasma and chlylomicron fractions will be further discussed in context of assessment of dietary factors which affect uptake and bioavailability in vivo. Information gained from studies such as these add to our understanding of the physiological significance of carotenoids and chlorophylls in humans, thereby facilitating design of future investigations and development of optimized functional food products.
Session 45, Health benefits of fruits and vegetables: Biological activity of phytonutrients
2005 IFT Annual Meeting, July 15-20 - New Orleans, Louisiana |