Carotenoids Diet: Digestion, Gut Microbiota Modulation, and Inflammatory Diseases

• Published in: Nutrients Vol. 15; no. 10; p. 2265
• Main Authors: Rocha, Helena R, Coelho, Marta C, Gomes, Ana M, Pintado, Manuela E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 10.05.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: absorption; Antioxidants; Bioavailability; Biological activity; Bowel disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Carotenoids; Carotenoids - pharmacology; Chronic diseases; Diet; Digestion; Digestive system; Digestive tract; Epidemiology; Food; Fruits; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Gastrointestinal tract; Gene expression; Humans; Inflammatory diseases; intestinal microbiota; Intestinal microflora; Intracellular signalling; Isomerization; Keywords; Lipids; Metabolism; Metabolites; Microbiota; Microbiota (Symbiotic organisms); Microorganisms; Oxidation; Oxidative stress; Physiological aspects; Phytochemicals; Plant metabolites; Review; Signal transduction; Transcription factors; Vegetables; Vegetables - metabolism; Vitamin A; intestinal microbiota; gastrointestinal tract; carotenoids; absorption; metabolites
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu15102265

Several epidemiologic studies have found that consuming fruits and vegetables lowers the risk of getting a variety of chronic illnesses, including several types of cancers, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and bowel diseases. Although there is still debate over the bioactive components, various secondary plant metabolites have been linked to these positive health benefits. Many of these features have recently been connected to carotenoids and their metabolites' effects on intracellular signalling cascades, which influence gene expression and protein translation. Carotenoids are the most prevalent lipid-soluble phytochemicals in the human diet, are found in micromolar amounts in human serum, and are very susceptible to multiple oxidation and isomerisation reactions. The gastrointestinal delivery system, digestion processes, stability, and functionality of carotenoids, as well as their impact on the gut microbiota and how carotenoids may be effective modulators of oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways, are still lacking research advances. Although several pathways involved in carotenoids' bioactivity have been identified, future studies should focus on the carotenoids' relationships, related metabolites, and their effects on transcription factors and metabolism.