Organic Synthesis of New Secosteroids from Fucosterol, Its Intestinal Absorption by Caco-2 Cells, and Simulation of the Biological Activities of Vitamin D.

We previously examined the cellular uptake of six types of vitamin D in human intestinal Caco-2 cells. Since vitamins D-D were commercially unavailable, we synthesized these compounds organically before studying them. This process led us to understand that new secosteroids could be generated as vitamin D candidates, depending on the sterol used as the starting material.

Effect of an Emulsified Formulation on Vegetable Carotenoid Bioaccessibility.

We investigated the effect of neutral lipids, polar lipids, and an emulsified formulation (EMF) on carotenoid bioaccessibility in an in vitro digestion assay of vegetables. These reagents enhanced carotenoid bioaccessibility. Contrary to our previous report, they also exhibited effects on lutein.

Uptake of Vitamins D, D, D, D, D, and D Solubilized in Mixed Micelles by Human Intestinal Cells, Caco-2, an Enhancing Effect of Lysophosphatidylcholine on the Cellular Uptake, and Estimation of Vitamins D' Biological Activities.

Vitamins D have various biological activities, as well as intestinal calcium absorption. There has been recent concern about insufficient vitamin D intake. In addition to vitamins D and D, there are lesser-known vitamins D-D.

Effect of dispersed form on the bioavailability of β-carotene from daily intake in humans.

In a randomized double-blind crossover study, a canned beverage was prepared using an emulsion dispersion formulation (EM) of β-carotene and a crystal dispersion formulation (CR) of β-carotene; the beverages were ingested by human subjects daily for 2 weeks to compare the β-carotene bioavailability. EM-β-carotene enhanced the β-carotene concentrations in human plasma approximately 4-fold, but CR-β-carotene showed no statistically significant enhancement. Bioaccessibility is the ratio of the solubilized fraction to the whole amount ingested.

3'-hydroxy-ε,ε-caroten-3-one inhibits the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells to adipocytes.

An oxidative metabolite of lutein, 3'-hydroxy-ε,ε-caroten-3-one, inhibited the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells to adipocytes and the subsequent triacylglycerol production, but lutein did not. The α,β-unsaturated carbonyl structure of 3'-hydroxy-ε,ε-caroten-3-one was considered to participate in the inhibitory effect, suggesting that this lutein metabolite has the potential to prevent metabolic syndrome.

Effects of fats and oils on the bioaccessibility of carotenoids and vitamin E in vegetables.

The low bioavailability of lipophilic micronutrients is mainly caused by their limited solubilization to an aqueous micelle, which hinders their ability to be taken up by the intestines. Bioaccessibility is the ratio of the solubilized portion to the whole amount ingested. We evaluated in this study the effects of individual fats and oils and their constituents on the bioaccessibility of carotenoids and vitamin E in vegetables by simulated digestion.