Differences In Carotenoid Concentrations Research Articles

Carotenoid-based plumage pigmentation and concentration as a function of sex and habitat type in the Yellow-breasted Boubou Laniarius atroflavus

The study of avian integumentary colouration can offer insight into dietary and metabolic processes as well as fitness in focal species. Yet, we know relatively less about the system of feather colouration in African birds in comparison to Europe, North America and the neotropics. In this study, we biochemically characterised and quantified the pigmentary basis for breast plumage colouration in the Yellow-breasted Boubou Laniarius atroflavus, a little-known Afromontane species restricted to the Nigerian–Cameroon Highlands. We also measured differences in carotenoid concentration and feather reflectance between sexes, and between birds inhabiting edge and riparian habitats. Six carotenoid pigments were recovered from the yellow feathers – canary xanthophyll A and B, a cis isomer of each, isoastaxanthin and an unidentified carotenoid. We determined that the yellow colour of the breast feathers is carotenoid-based, with the greater proportion as canary xanthophylls. The presence of the ketocarotenoid, isoastaxanthin, provides the basis for further studies into red, orange and yellow coloured congenerics. Males appeared to have higher feather pigment concentrations than females, and birds resident in the edge habitat appeared to have slightly higher feather pigment concentrations than those in the degraded riparian habitat. There was little indication of differences in feather reflectance between sexes and habitat types. However, low samples size restricted further differentiation. There is also the need for further studies on the dietary and metabolic pathways of feather colouration to better understand how ecological variation may shape pigment uptake, transport, synthesis and deposition in feathers.

Carotenoid Composition of Invertebrates Consumed by Two Insectivorous Bird Species

Dietary carotenoids are important pigments, antioxidants, and immune-stimulants for birds. Despite recent interest in carotenoids in bird ecology, we know surprisingly little about the carotenoid content of invertebrates consumed by birds. We compared carotenoid (lutein, beta-carotene, and total) concentrations in invertebrates brought to nestlings by two insectivorous passerines, the great tit, Parus major and the pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca. We also compared carotenoid levels between environments that were either polluted by heavy metals or were not polluted, because the carotenoid-based plumage color of P. major nestlings is affected by environmental pollution. Lepidopterans were the most carotenoid-rich food items and contained the largest proportion of lutein. There were no differences in carotenoid concentrations in the food items of the two bird species but P. major nestlings obtained more carotenoids from their invertebrate diet than F. hypoleuca nestlings because the P. major diet had a higher proportion of lepidopteran larvae. In polluted areas, P. major nestlings consumed lower levels of dietary carotenoids than in unpolluted areas because of temporal differences in caterpillar abundance between polluted and unpolluted sites. Our study suggests that pollution-related difference in nestling plumage color in P. major is related to varying dietary proportion of lutein-rich food items rather than pollution-related variation in insect carotenoid levels.

Carotenoid and vitamin content of Micronesian atoll foods: Pandanus ( Pandanus tectorius) and garlic pear ( Crataeva speciosa) fruit

The fruit of pandanus ( Pandanus tectorius) and garlic pear ( Crataeva speciosa) are important indigenous Micronesian atoll foods, but are increasingly neglected due to dietary and lifestyle changes. Previous studies have shown considerable differences in carotenoid concentrations in some pandanus cultivars. There are many Micronesian pandanus cultivars, most of which have not been assessed. Carotenoid-rich foods protect against vitamin A deficiency, anemia, and chronic disease, including cancer, heart disease and diabetes, which are serious problems in Micronesia. Eleven pandanus cultivars of Mwoakilloa and Kapingamarangi Atolls, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) (assessed for the first time), dried pandanus paste of the Marshall Islands, and garlic pear of Mortlock Atolls, Chuuk, FSM, were analyzed for carotenoids (β- and α-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene). Pandanus paste was assessed for 11 vitamins. The pandanus cultivars contained substantial concentrations of provitamin A carotenoids (110–370 μg β-carotene/100 g) and total carotenoids (990–5200 μg/100 g). Pandanus paste contained 1400 μg β-carotene/100 g, 5620 μg total carotenoids/100 g, and 10 vitamins (including 10.8 mg/100 g vitamin C). Garlic pear contained 1070 μg β-carotene/100 g and 1460 μg total carotenoids/100 g. These cultivars and foods should be promoted in Micronesia and possibly elsewhere in the Pacific and other contexts in order to reduce vitamin A deficiency and provide further health benefits and enjoyment.

Does variability in carotenoid composition and concentration in tissues of the breast and reproductive tract in women depend on type of lesion?

Vitamin A takes part in many physiological and pathological processes in women's reproductive organs. The study objective was to compare the carotenoid content in benign and malignant lesions of the breast, ovary and uterus, and to demonstrate quantitative and qualitative similarities or differences between the study groups. Materials for analysis were physiological and pathological tissues of breast, ovary and uterus. The carotenoid pigments were isolated using column chromatography (CC), thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Sixteen carotenoids were identified in the study material, including those belonging to the provitamin A group. The most common were: beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein, mutatoxanthin, violaxanthin, lutein epoxide and zeaxanthin. All the tissues subjected to analysis contained beta-carotene, 98% of the tissues had beta-cryptoxanthin, whereas alpha-carotene was detected in about 50% of breast tissue. No differences in carotenoid concentration were found between benign and malignant lesions in the examined tissues, apart from hydroxyechinenone, canthaxanthin, astaxanthin, lutein epoxide, antheraxanthin and neoxanthin. Similarly, no differences in concentration of the provitamin A carotenoids (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, and echinenone) were found between benign and malignant lesions except hydroxyechinenone. The highest total content of carotenoids and the biggest spectrum of predominant carotenoids were found in the breast. Only in tissues of malignant lesions of the uterus, we observed statistically higher total content of carotenoids compared to remaining samples from the uterus (p<0.001) and more frequent isolation of some carotenoids (compared to benign lesions). The results of our study confirmed the presence of a high diversity of carotenoids in the physiologic, benign and malignant tissues of the breast and the reproductive tract in women. The differences observed among the frequency of isolation of some carotenoids do not allow to make straightforward conclusions. The frequent isolation of provitamin A carotenoids in the examined material and the lack of their occurrence as major carotenoids may be connected with using them in the cellular biological processes. However, this requires further investigation.

Non-Invasive Raman Spectroscopic Detection of Carotenoids in Human Skin

Carotenoids are thought to play a significant part in the skin's anti-oxidant defense system, and may help prevent malignancy. Inability to measure skin carotenoid content readily has, however, made it difficult to establish the relationship between carotenoid concentration and the occurrence of cutaneous malignancy. We have measured in vivo carotenoid concentration using a noninvasive optical method, Raman spectroscopy. To validate our instrumentation, abdominoplasty skin was evaluated by both Raman spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography determination for carotenoid content. Evaluation of the Raman signal in specific carotenoid solutions was also performed. Precision of Raman measurements within skin sites, within subjects, and between subjects was measured. Sensitivity of the method was evaluated as a function of anatomical region and the distribution of carotenoids within the stratum corneum. Lastly, we evaluated the Raman signal in actinic keratosis and basal cell carcinoma lesions and perilesional skin and compared this with region-matched sites in healthy subjects. Our results indicate that the Raman scattering method reflects the presence of carotenoids in human skin and is highly reproducible. Evaluation of five anatomical regions demonstrated significant differences in carotenoid concentration by body region with the highest carotenoid concentration noted in the palm. Comparison of carotenoid concentrations in basal cell carcinomas, actinic keratosis, and their perilesional skin demonstrate a significantly lower carotenoid concentration than in region-matched skin of healthy subjects. These results represent the first evidence that carotenoid concentration in the skin correlate with the presence or absence of skin cancer and precancerous lesions.

Mechanistic aspects involved in hyperlipidemia occuring in glycogen storage disease type I (GSD-I) patients

Flesh colour of eight canthaxanthin-pigmented farmed and eight astaxanthin-pig-mented with Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) was measured by instrumental analysis. The colour of raw, baked and cold smoked flesh from cultured and wild salmon was compared using reflectance spectra transformed into CIE (1976) L∗a∗b∗ values. In this system L∗ represents lightness of salmon flesh colour, a∗ redness and b∗ yellowness.CIE (1976) L∗a∗b∗ values obtained with a portable instrument (Minolta Chroma Meter) showed that intensity of redness (a∗) of raw, baked and smoked salmon increased with increasing carotenoid concentration of the raw flesh, while lightness (L∗) decreased. Intensity of yellowness (b∗) was not significantly influenced by carotenoid concentration. Baking and smoking caused a∗ to decrease, while L∗ increased. Values obtained by the portable instrument were in good accordance with corresponding values obtained with a HunterLab LabScan II sphere spectrocolorimeter. The reflectance ratio R650R510 of raw, baked and smoked salmon flesh was significantly correlated to carotenoid concentration, but to a lesser extent than CIE (1976) a∗ values. The present analyses did not reveal colour differences between farmed and wild salmon except for those caused by differences in carotenoid concentration.

Pigmentation of rainbow trout with astaxanthin and canthaxanthin in freshwater and saltwater

The effect of water salinity (0 and 32 ppt) on pigmentation of rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss) was investigated by feeding diets supplemented with 50 mg astaxanthin or 100 mg canthaxanthin/kg in comparison with a control diet without carotenoids added. The initial weight of the trout was 730 g and the experiment lasted for 12 weeks. At 12 weeks, carotenoid levels were not significantly different in flesh and liver, but differentiated by the two water sources in skin and gut of trout fed the astaxanthin-supplemented diet. Carotenoid composition of trout was not affected by the salinity of the rearing water. In spite of differences in carotenoid concentration of the two carotenoid-supplemented diets, the total amounts of carotenoids deposited in trout fed diets supplemented with astaxanthin and canthaxanthin were comparable. Instrumentally measured redness (a *) and yellowness (b *) were significantly correlated with carotenoid concentration in the flesh, but were not affected by water salinity. Redness was higher for astaxanthin-pigmented flesh than for the canthaxanthin-pigmented flesh at comparable carotenoid concentrations.

Instrumental colour analysis of farmed and wild Atlantic salmon when raw, baked and smoked

Flesh colour of eight canthaxanthin-pigmented farmed and eight astaxanthin-pig-mented with Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar L.) was measured by instrumental analysis. The colour of raw, baked and cold smoked flesh from cultured and wild salmon was compared using reflectance spectra transformed into CIE (1976) L ∗a ∗b ∗ values. In this system L ∗ represents lightness of salmon flesh colour, a ∗ redness and b ∗ yellowness. CIE (1976) L ∗a ∗b ∗ values obtained with a portable instrument (Minolta Chroma Meter) showed that intensity of redness ( a ∗ ) of raw, baked and smoked salmon increased with increasing carotenoid concentration of the raw flesh, while lightness ( L ∗ ) decreased. Intensity of yellowness ( b ∗ ) was not significantly influenced by carotenoid concentration. Baking and smoking caused a ∗ to decrease, while L ∗ increased. Values obtained by the portable instrument were in good accordance with corresponding values obtained with a HunterLab LabScan II sphere spectrocolorimeter. The reflectance ratio R 650 R 510 of raw, baked and smoked salmon flesh was significantly correlated to carotenoid concentration, but to a lesser extent than CIE (1976) a ∗ values. The present analyses did not reveal colour differences between farmed and wild salmon except for those caused by differences in carotenoid concentration.

Relationship between Fat Globule Surface Area and Carotenoid and Vitamin A Content of Milk in Successive Portions of a Milking

There have been several reports that the carotenoid and perhaps the vitamin A content of the fat remaining in skimmilk after the separation process may be higher than that of the original whole milk fat (2, 9, 14, 15) . Kon et al. (14) and Francois (9) have suggested that, since the fat of skimmilk represents only the smallest of the fat globules of whole milk, the reported differences in carotenoid and vitamin A content might be correlated with differences in globule size. Smaller globules have greater surface areas, relative to their volumes, than do larger globules, and Kon et al. suggested a relationship, for carotenoids, to the surface-volume ratio. They found no such differences for vitamin A. However, Francois found these differences for both carotenoids and vitamin A and proposed a surface layer, on the fat globule, highly concentrated in these substances. In general, differences in carotenoid concentration between skim and whole milk fat have been reported to be greater than those for vitamin A.