Carotenoids are bioactive compounds with widely accepted health benefits. Their quantification in human faeces can be a useful non-invasive approach to assess their bioavailability. Identification and quantification of major dietary carotenoids in human faeces was the aim of the present study. Faeces and dietary intake were obtained from 101 healthy adults (45–65 years). Carotenoid concentrations were determined by HPLC in faeces and by 3-day food records in dietary intake. Carotenoids quantified in faeces (µg/g dry weight, median) were: β-carotene (39.5), lycopene (20), lutein (17.5), phytoene (11.4), zeaxanthin (6.3), β-cryptoxanthin (4.5), phytofluene (2.9). α-carotene (5.3) and violaxanthin were found 75.5% and 7.1% of the faeces. The carotenoids found in the highest concentrations corresponded to the ones consumed in the greatest amounts (µg/d): lycopene (13,146), phytoene (2697), β-carotene (1812), lutein+zeaxanthin (1148). Carotenoid concentration in faeces and in dietary intake showed correlation for the total non-provitamin A carotenoids (r = 0.302; p = 0.003), phytoene (r = 0.339; p = 0.001), phytofluene (r = 0.279; p = 0.005), lycopene (0.223; p = 0.027), lutein+zeaxanthin (r = 0.291; p = 0.04) and β-cryptoxanthin (r = 0.323; p = 0.001). A high proportion of dietary carotenoids, especially those with provitamin A activity and some of their isomers, reach the large intestine, suggesting a low bioavailability of their intact forms.

中文翻译：

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通过 HPLC-DAD 提取并分析西班牙成人粪便中的类胡萝卜素。


类胡萝卜素是具有广泛接受的健康益处的生物活性化合物。它们在人类粪便中的定量可以成为评估其生物利用度的有用的非侵入性方法。本研究的目的是鉴定和定量人类粪便中主要膳食类胡萝卜素。粪便和饮食摄入量取自 101 名健康成年人（45-65 岁）。通过粪便中的 HPLC 和膳食摄入量中的 3 天食物记录测定类胡萝卜素浓度。粪便中类胡萝卜素的定量（μg/g干重，中位数）为：β-胡萝卜素（39.5）、番茄红素（20）、叶黄素（17.5）、八氢番茄红素（11.4）、玉米黄质（6.3）、β-隐黄质（4.5）、六氢番茄红素（2.9）。粪便中 75.5% 和 7.1% 含有 α-胡萝卜素 (5.3) 和紫黄质。最高浓度的类胡萝卜素对应于最大消耗量（微克/天）的类胡萝卜素：番茄红素 (13,146)、八氢番茄红素 (2697)、β-胡萝卜素 (1812)、叶黄素+玉米黄质 (1148)。粪便和膳食摄入中的类胡萝卜素浓度显示与总非维生素原 A 类胡萝卜素 (r = 0.302; p = 0.003)、八氢番茄红素 (r = 0.339; p = 0.001)、六氢番茄红素 (r = 0.279; p = 0.005)、番茄红素（0.223； p = 0.027）、叶黄素+玉米黄质（r = 0.291； p = 0.04）和 β-隐黄质（r = 0.323； p = 0.001）。膳食类胡萝卜素（尤其是具有维生素原 A 活性的类胡萝卜素及其某些异构体）的比例较高，会到达大肠，表明其完整形式的生物利用度较低。