TY  - JOUR
A1  - Raila, Jens
A1  - Schweigert, Florian J.
A1  - Stanitznig, A.
A1  - Lambacher, B.
A1  - Franz, S.
A1  - Baldermann, Susanne
A1  - Wittek, T.
T1  - No detectable carotenoid concentrations in serum of llamas and alpacas
JF  - Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition
N2  - Carotenoids are lipid-soluble pigments and important for a variety of physiological functions. They are major dietary vitamin A precursors and act as lipophilic antioxidants in a variety of tissues and are associated with important health benefits in humans and animals. All animals must acquire carotenoids from their diet, but to our knowledge, there are no studies investigating the intestinal carotenoid absorption and their blood concentrations in New World camelids. The present study aimed to assess the serum concentrations of selected carotenoids in llamas (n=13) and alpacas (n=27). Serum carotenoids as well as retinol (vitamin A) and -tocopherol (vitamin E) were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and these were unable to detect any carotenoids (- and -carotene, - and -cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene) in the samples. The concentrations of retinol in alpacas (2.89 +/- 1.13mol/l; mean +/- SD) were higher (p=0.024) than those found in llamas (2.05 +/- 0.87mol/l); however, the concentrations of -tocopherol were not significantly (p=0.166) different (llamas: 3.98 +/- 1.83mol/l; alpacas: 4.95 +/- 2.14mol/l). The results show that both llamas and alpacas are not able to absorb intact carotenoids, but efficiently convert provitamin A carotenoids to retinol.
KW  - New World camelids
KW  - carotenoids
KW  - vitamins
Y1  - 2017
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.12638
SN  - 0931-2439
SN  - 1439-0396
VL  - 101
SP  - 629
EP  - 634
PB  - Wiley
CY  - Hoboken
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Islam, Khan Shaiful
A1  - Khalil, Mahmoud
A1  - Männer, K.
A1  - Raila, Jens
A1  - Rawel, Harshadrai Manilal
A1  - Zentek, J.
A1  - Schweigert, Florian J.
T1  - Effect of dietary alpha-tocopherol on the bioavailability of lutein in laying hen
JF  - Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition
N2  - Lutein and its isomer zeaxanthin have gained considerable interest as possible nutritional ingredient in the prevention of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in humans. Egg yolk is a rich source of these carotenoids. As an oxidative sensitive component, antioxidants such as -tocopherol (T) might contribute to an improved accumulation in egg yolk. To test this, chickens were fed lutein esters (LE) with and without -tocopherol as an antioxidant. After depletion on a wheat-soya bean-based lutein-poor diet for 21days, laying hens (n=42) were equally divided into three groups and fed the following diets for 21days: control (basal diet), a LE group (40mg LE/kg feed) and LE+T group (40mg LE plus 100mg T/kg feed). Eggs and blood were collected periodically. Carotenoids and -tocopherol in yolk and blood plasma were determined by HPLC. Egg yolk was also analysed for total carotenoids using a one-step spectrophotometric method (iCheck(())). Lutein, zeaxanthin, -tocopherol and total carotenoids in egg yolk were highest after 14days of feeding and decreased slightly afterwards. At the end of the trial, eggs of LE+T group contained higher amount of lutein (13.72), zeaxanthin (0.65), -tocopherol (297.40) and total carotenoids (21.6) compared to the LE group (10.96, 0.55, 205.20 and 18.0mg/kg, respectively, p<0.05). Blood plasma values of LE+T group contain higher lutein (1.3), zeaxanthin (0.06) and tocopherol (20.1) compared to LE group (1.02, 0.04 and 14.90mg/l, respectively, p<0.05). In conclusion, dietary -tocopherol enhances bioavailability of lutein reflecting higher content in egg yolk and blood plasma. Improved bioavailability might be due to increased absorption of lutein in the presence of tocopherol and/or a greater stability of lutein/zeaxanthin due to the presence of -tocopherol as an antioxidant.
KW  - carotenoids
KW  - tocopherol
KW  - egg yolk
KW  - bioavailability
KW  - HPLC
KW  - iCheck
Y1  - 2016
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.12464
SN  - 0931-2439
SN  - 1439-0396
VL  - 100
SP  - 868
EP  - 875
PB  - Wiley-Blackwell
CY  - Hoboken
ER  -