Lycopene and Beta-carotene Metabolism in the Digestive Tract of Healthy Men

Consumption of foods containing the carotenoids lutein, lycopene, beta-carotene, as well as vitamin E, have been associated with lower risk of developing chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer, age related macular degeneration, and cognitive decline. While the parent compounds have largely been assumed to exert protective antioxidant effects, more recent work has suggested that metabolites may be bioactive. Very little attention has been given to the metabolism of these compounds during the digestive process. Our primariy aim is to conduct a postprandial feeding study in healthy men to determine the stability of carotenoids and vitamin E during digestion, and to identify the primary metabolites produced in the upper gastrointestinal tract during digestion. Subjects will be fed a meal containing either lutein,lycopene, deuterated beta-carotene, or deuterated vitamin E. Gastric and duodenal samples will be taken 5 hours post-meal consumption, while blood plasma and chylomicron fractions will be taken over 7 hours post-meal consumption. Targeted metabolites will be identified and quantitated using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry methods previously developed. In addition, a non-targeted metabolomics approach will be used to identify non-predicted metabolites in a subset of collected samples. Overall, this research will provide very original insight about carotenoid and vitamin E metabolites produced during the digestive process and their absorption by the human body. This information is essential to understand how these compounds may confer protection against chronic disease.

Inclusion criteria

• BMI of 18-29.9
• Cholesterol < 2.2 g/L
• Triglycerides < 1.5 g/L
• Blood sugar </= 1.1 g/L
• Hemoglobin > 13 g/dL
• Test negative for hepatitis B, C, and HIV

Exclusion criteria

• Hepatitis B and C
• HIV
• Blood donation or blood sampling less than 2 months prior to the first daylong study day
• Craniofacial trauma
• Smokers
• Regular consumption of vitamins or supplements rich in carotenoids or vitamin E in the past 3 months
• Alcohol consumption > 140 g per week (equivalent to 14 glasses of wine, 14 glasses of beer (25 mL), or 14 shots of liquor).
• Past or present eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia, etc.)
• Food allergies to components of the liquid test meal
• Medical treatment or surgical intervention affecting the digestive tract or function of the digestive tract
• Metabolic disorders (disorder of the liver or pancreas, diabetes, hemochromatosis, gastro-intenstinal disorders with the exception of appendicitis)
• Use of certain medications (those which regulate intestinal transit, those which reduce blood lipids and cholesterol, those which interact with bile salts)
• All medical indications which fall within the context of exclusion criteria as determined by the supervising physician of the study
• Intense physical activity > 4 1/2 hours per week
• Participation in another clinical study