The presence of carotenoids in human colostrum has been reported in the literature, and xanthophyll esters in human colostrum were recently detected for the first time. However, no published studies have reported whether apocarotenoids, which are metabolites derived from carotenoid enzymatic or nonenzymatic oxidative cleavage, are present in human colostrum. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to search for the possible occurrence of apocarotenoids, including apocarotenoid esters, in human colostrum for the first time by applying an online supercritical fluid extraction-supercritical fluid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry methodology. Recent evidence related to apocarotenoid transcriptional activity has suggested that they may have beneficial health properties superior to those of their parent carotenoids. Three different apocarotenoids, namely apo-8'-β-carotenal, apo-8'-lycopenal, and β-citraurin, were identified in intact human colostrum samples, with average concentrations of 85 nmol L-1, 54.6 nmol L-1, and 75.4 nmol L-1, respectively. The overall detection of 16 different free apocarotenoids and 10 different apocarotenoid fatty acid esters in human colostrum was achieved here for the first time. Their occurrence in human colostrum certainly has implications for newborn health status, since colostrum is the only form of food for the newborn during the very first days of life. Graphical abstract.

中文翻译：

---

人初乳中游离类胡萝卜素和类胡萝卜素酯的测定。

文献中已经报道了人类初乳中类胡萝卜素的存在，并且最近首次检测到人类初乳中的叶黄素酯。然而，尚未有公开的研究报道人类初乳中是否存在类胡萝卜素，其是类胡萝卜素酶促或非酶促氧化裂解的产物。因此，本研究的目的是通过应用在线超临界流体萃取-超临界流体色谱-串联质谱方法来首次搜索人初乳中可能存在的类胡萝卜素，包括类胡萝卜素酯。与类胡萝卜素转录活性有关的最新证据表明，它们可能具有优于其亲本类胡萝卜素的有益健康特性。在完整的人初乳样品中鉴定出三种不同的类胡萝卜素类化合物，即apo-8'-β-胡萝卜素，apo-8'-lycopenal和β-柠檬醛，平均浓度分别为85 nmol L-1、54.6 nmol L-1，和75.4 nmol L-1分别。首次在此实现了人类初乳中16种不同的游离类胡萝卜素和10种不同的类胡萝卜素脂肪酸酯的整体检测。它们在人初乳中的存在肯定会对新生儿的健康状况产生影响，因为初乳是新生儿一生中唯一的食物形式。图形概要。首次在此实现了人类初乳中16种不同的游离类胡萝卜素和10种不同的类胡萝卜素脂肪酸酯的整体检测。它们在人初乳中的存在肯定会对新生儿的健康状况产生影响，因为初乳是新生儿一生中唯一的食物形式。图形概要。首次在此实现了人类初乳中16种不同的游离类胡萝卜素和10种不同的类胡萝卜素脂肪酸酯的整体检测。它们在人初乳中的存在肯定会对新生儿的健康状况产生影响，因为初乳是新生儿一生中唯一的食物形式。图形概要。