Bioavailability of Carotenoids and Specific Vitamins of a Commercially Available Fruit‐, Berry‐ and Vegetable‐Juice Concentrate

Abstract

IntroductionSeveral clinical trials have documented that supplementations with a whole food based encapsulated fruit/berry/vegetable juice powder supplement (Juice Plus+®) improved markers of redox biology, low‐grade inflammation and circulation. The aim of this study was whether this product provides bioavailable carotinoides and vitamins A, E and C to support mechanistic explanations for the beneficial outcomes observed in the past.MethodsIn this one‐arm clinical trial 18 healthy subjects (m/f, 20 – 50 yrs), non‐smokers, who fulfilled the inclusion criteria received the product over 8 weeks. 6 capsules a day, 2 of the fruit blend + 2 of the berry blend + 2 of the vegetable blend, were taken with meals. After wash‐out of all food supplements and dietetic foodstuff the bioavailability of several carotenoids and vitamins C, A, E was determined at baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention with the nutraceutical.ResultsAfter 8 weeks of supplementation the plasma carotenoids α‐carotene, β‐cryptoxanthine, and lycopene increased significantly (p<0.05). β‐carotene increase almost reached significance (p=0.053). Also plasma concentrations of vitamins C, A (all‐trans retinol), and α‐tocopherol increased significantly after eight weeks of supplementation. We observed no differences between genders. For those micronutrients with known reference ranges like α‐carotene, β‐carotene, and vitamins C, E and A, all observed increases leveled off around the upper limit of the individual reference range.ConclusionThe data demonstrate that the investigated fruit‐, berry‐ and vegetable‐juice concentrate is able to increase plasma carotenoids and vitamin concentrations of healthy subjects within 8 weeks. Our observations let us assume that carotenoid‐ and vitamin‐malnourished subjects could benefit from supplementation with this whole food based nutraceutical.Support or Funding InformationThis study was funded by Green Beat, Graz, Austria