Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT01748916

Comparison of Carotenoid Bioavailability From Fresh Papaya, Tomato and Carrot

The goal of this study is to determine if papaya fruits are an exceptionally good food source for carotenoids in humans, particularly when compared more common carotenoid sources like carrots and tomatoes. This objective will be accomplished by quantitation of the immediate post-prandial plasma concentrations of parent carotenoids and vitamin A metabolites from subjects who consumed a meal containing fresh papaya, tomato, and carrot.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Focus of Study: Carotenoid Absorption

Age range

18 year–70 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica

Loading trial locations.

About this study

The main purpose of this study is comparing bioavailability of papaya carotenoids versus carrot and tomato carotenoids. Previously, vitamin A deposition in rat livers was studied, showing that carotenoid bioavailability from papaya is higher than from spinach, parsley and carrots. Detailed knowledge about human carotenoid absorption and conversion from papaya fruit compared to other food sources is still lacking.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • healthy individuals

Exclusion criteria

  • lactating, pregnant, or planned to be pregnant
  • smokers/those who use tobacco products
  • metabolic or malabsorption disorders
  • had a history of cancer
  • history of liver insufficiency or other gastro-intestinal diseases
  • allergy to papaya, carrots or tomatoes
  • obesity

Treatment and study plan

Papaya

Other

Post-prandial study feeding 400-506 g papaya (1.6 mg beta-carotene, 2.1 mg beta-cryptoxanthin, 13 mg lycopene), 150 g yogurt (10% fat), and 45 g of fat free bread.

Carrot

Other

Post-prandial study feeding 25-35 g carrot (= 1.6 mg beta-carotene), 150 g yogurt (10% fat), and 45 g of fat free bread.

Tomato

Other

Post-prandial study feeding 256-396 g tomato (= 13 mg lycopene), 150 g yogurt (10% fat), and 45 g of fat free bread.

Primary outcomes

  1. Pharmacokinetics of Carotenoid Absorption From Papaya, Carrot and Tomato

    Time frame: 8 post-prandial blood samples over 9.5 hours

    The primary goal of this research is to investigate whether papaya can deliver increased quantities of carotenoids when compared to carrot and tomato. An area under the curve for concentration of carotenoids (from triglyceride rich lipoprotein (TRL) fraction of plasma) over time will be determined to quantify absorption, after subjects consume a meal containing papaya, carrot or tomato.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ohio State University

Other

Collaborators

  • Universidad de Costa Rica
  • University of Hohenheim

Registry information

Official study title

Evaluation of the Effect of the Consumption of Papaya, Tomato, and Carrot on the Bioavailability of Carotenoids

Important dates

Study start
2011
Primary completion
2011
Study completion
2011
First posted
Dec 13, 2012
Registry last updated
Oct 20, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.