The color of greater flamingo feathers fades when no cosmetics are applied.

Greater flamingos use cosmetic coloration by spreading uropygial secretions pigmented with carotenoids over their feathers, which makes the plumage redder. Because flamingos inhabit open environments that receive direct solar radiation during daytime, and carotenoids bleach when exposed to solar radiation, we expected that the plumage color would fade if there is no maintenance for cosmetic purposes. Here, we show that the concentrations of pigments inside feathers and on the surface of feathers were correlated, as well as that there was a correlation between the concentrations of pigments in the uropygial secretions and on the surface of feathers.

In Vitro Digestion of Human Milk: Influence of the Lactation Stage on the Micellar Carotenoids Content.

Human milk is a complex fluid with nutritive and non-nutritive functions specifically structured to cover the needs of the newborn. The present study started with the study of carotenoid composition during progress of lactation (colostrum, collected at 3-5 d postpartum; mature milk, collected at 30 d postpartum) with samples donated from full-term lactating mothers (women with no chronic diseases, nonsmokers on a regular diet without supplements, = 30). Subsequently, we applied an in vitro protocol to determine the micellarization efficiency of the carotenoids, which were separated by HPLC and quantified by the external standard method.

Activities, bioavailability, and metabolism of lipids from structural membranes and oils: Promising research on mild cognitive impairment.

Concomitant with increased lifespan, large segments of the population are experiencing cognitive decline, which might progress to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Currently, there is no cure for AD and, once the neurodegenerative disorders are established, patients use pharmacologic therapy to slow the progression of the symptoms and require appropriate care to manage their condition. The preclinical stage of neural degeneration that progress through mild cognitive impairment (MCI) before the onset of AD is when it might be possible to introduce behavioral changes and pharma-nutritional interventions that modify the risk factors of MCI conversion to AD.

Xanthophyll esters are found in human colostrum.

Scope: Carotenoids in human milk are associated with other lipid counterparts in several metabolic processes. One interesting association that has not been demonstrated to date is the presence of xanthophyll esters. Colostrum and mature milk samples were analyzed to determine the occurrence of xanthophyll esters and identify the compounds.

Tropical bat as mammalian model for skin carotenoid metabolism.

Animals cannot synthesize carotenoid pigments de novo, and must consume them in their diet. Most mammals, including humans, are indiscriminate accumulators of carotenoids but inefficiently distribute them to some tissues and organs, such as skin. This limits the potential capacity of these organisms to benefit from the antioxidant and immunostimulatory functions that carotenoids fulfill.

Need and seek for dietary micronutrients: endogenous regulation, external signalling and food sources of carotenoids in new world vultures.

Among birds, vultures show low concentrations of plasma carotenoids due to the combination of their large size, general dull colouration and a diet based on carrion. We recorded the concentration of each carotenoid type present in plasma of the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) according to age and sex, that determine colour signalling and dominance hierarchies in the carcasses. We compared the carotenoid profile in wild condors with that of captive condors fed with a controlled diet of flesh to test the hypothesis that wild individuals could acquire extra carotenoids from vegetal matter contained in carcass viscera and fresh vegetation.

Carotenoid production in Lactobacillus plantarum.

Eighteen strains of Lactobacillus plantarum from different origins were screened for carotenoid production, as many of them exhibited a deep yellow pigmentation when cultured as isolated colonies on MRS-agar plates. We found that most of them produced significative amounts of the yellow C(30) carotenoid 4,4'-diaponeurosporene in the range 1.8 to 54 mg/kg of dry cell weight.

The liver but not the skin is the site for conversion of a red carotenoid in a passerine bird.

Carotenoids may provide numerous health benefits and are also responsible for the integumentary coloration of many bird species. Despite their importance, many aspects of their metabolism are still poorly known, and even basic issues such as the anatomical sites of conversion remain controversial. Recent studies suggest that the transformation of carotenoid pigments takes place directly in the follicles during feather growth, even though the liver has been previously recognised as a storing organ for these pigments with a certain potential for conversion.

Environmental-induced acquisition of nuptial plumage expression: a role of denaturation of feather carotenoproteins?

Several avian species show a bright carotenoid-based coloration during spring and following a period of duller coloration during the previous winter, despite carotenoids presumably being fully deposited in feathers during the autumn moult. Carotenoid-based breast feathers of male linnets (Carduelis cannabina) increased in hue (redness), saturation and brightness after exposing them to outdoor conditions from winter to spring. This represents the first experimental evidence showing that carotenoid-based plumage coloration may increase towards a colourful expression due to biotic or abiotic environmental factors acting directly on full-grown feathers when carotenoids may be fully functional.

Involvement of Copper and Zinc Ions in Green Staining of Table Olives of the Variety Gordal.

The presence of metalochlorophyllic complexes of copper has been detected in table olives showing the alteration known as green staining. These compounds are absent in the healthy fruit. The possible implication of fungicidal treatment of olive trees in this alteration has been studied.