Bioavailability of carotenoids from chlorella powder in healthy subjects: A comparison with marigold petal extract

• Published in: Journal of functional foods Vol. 21; pp. 27 - 35
• Main Authors: Jung, Hye Yoon, Ok, Hyang Mok, Park, Min Young, Kim, Ji Yeon, Kwon, Oran
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2016
• Subjects: alpha-carotene; beta-carotene; Bioavailability; Buccal mucosa cells; Carotenoids; Chlorella; Chlorella powder; correlation; high density lipoprotein; Lipoprotein fractions; low density lipoprotein; lutein; Marigold petal extract; randomized clinical trials; zeaxanthin; Buccal mucosa cells; Lipoprotein fractions; Carotenoids; Bioavailability; Chlorella powder; Marigold petal extract
• ISSN: 1756-4646; 2214-9414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2015.11.036

•The bioavailabilities of major carotenoids were compared in chlorella and marigold.•Carotenoids in plasma, lipoproteins, and buccal mucosa were measured by HPLC.•Plasma lutein was comparably high and correlated to LDL/HDL/buccal mucosa content.•Plasma α-carotene was high for chlorella and correlated to LDL content.•Chlorella may be used as carotenoids source with a reliable mass production. More information on the bioavailability of carotenoids is needed to make recommendations on carotenoid consumption. Here, we compared the bioavailabilities of lutein, zeaxanthin, α-carotene, and β-carotene from regular chlorella powder (RC), lutein-enriched chlorella powder (LC), and marigold petal extract (M) in a randomised clinical trial. The plasma lutein response was highest for LC, comparably high for RC and M and was positively correlated with LDL, HDL, and buccal mucosal cell (BMC) content. The plasma α-carotene response was delayed but significant for LC and RC and was positively correlated with LDL content. The plasma zeaxanthin and β-carotene responses did not differ among the groups and were positively correlated with LDL content. Lutein and zeaxanthin were detected in BMCs, but α-carotene and β-carotene were not. These findings support the use of chlorella powder as a lutein source that is equivalent to marigold petal extract, but with a greater diversity and reliable mass-production.