Provitamin A Absorption and Conversion With Avocados

The Ohio State University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Healthy

Treatments: Other: Post-prandial Feeding Study

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01432210

2011H0159

60030575 (Other Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Vitamin A is necessary in the human diet. The form of vitamin A found in fruits and vegetables is not "active" and must be converted to the active form in the human body. However, information on the ability of humans to absorb and convert vitamin A to the active form is still lacking. In this study, the investigators will observe the absorption and conversion of vitamin A from orange tomato sauce and/or carrots after a meal with fat (from avocado fruit) and a meal without fat. The investigators will also test whether eating these foods might protect the blood against damage that could lead to heart disease.

Full description

The primary objective of this study will be to demonstrate that adding avocados to a carotene rich meal will promote the absorption of provitamin A carotenoids and enhance the delivery of greater quantities of vitamin A. This objective will be accomplished by quantitation of the immediate post-prandial plasma concentrations of parent carotenoids and vitamin A metabolites after subjects consume a meal with or without avocado in combination with a serving of tomato sauce (containing nutritionally relevant amounts of beta-carotene) or carrots.

The secondary objective of this study will be to determine if higher levels of carotenoids and other antioxidants transported in the bloodstream will have a protective role in promoting cardiovascular health. This objective will be accomplished by testing the oxidation capacity of lipoprotein fractions before and after meal supplementation.

Enrollment: 24 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 70 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Total cholesterol (140 to 200 mg/dL)
• BMI 17 to 30
• Age 18-70 years

Exclusion criteria

• Lactating, pregnant, or plan to be pregnant during study
• Tobacco use (cigarettes or chewing tobacco)
• Metabolic disease
• Malabsorption disorders
• History of cancer, esophageal, gastric, or intestinal ulcers
• History of liver or kidney insufficiency or failure
• Allergies to tomatoes or tomato products
• Allergies to carrots
• Allergies to avocados
• Obesity (BMI>30)
• Hypercholesterolemia (total cholesterol> 200mg/dL)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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24 participants in 2 patient groups

Tomato Meal

Other group

Description:

A tomato meal will be fed with and without avocado.

Treatment:

Other: Post-prandial Feeding Study

Carrot Meal

Other group

Description:

A carrot meal will be fed with and without avocado.

Treatment:

Other: Post-prandial Feeding Study