β-Carotene in the human body: Metabolic bioactivation pathways—From digestion to tissue distribution and excretion
Open accessAbstract
β-Carotene intake and tissue/blood concentrations have been associated with reduced incidence of several chronic diseases. Further bioactive carotenoid-metabolites can modulate the expression of specific genes mainly via the nuclear hormone receptors: retinoic acid receptor- and retinoid X receptor-mediated signalling. To better understand the metabolic conversion of β-carotene, inter-individual differences regarding β-carotene bioavailability and bioactivity are key steps that determine its further metabolism and bioactivation and mediated signalling. Major carotenoid metabolites, the retinoids, can be stored as esters or further oxidised and excreted via phase 2 metabolism pathways. In this review, we aim to highlight the major critical control points that determine the fate of β-carotene in the human body, with a special emphasis on β-carotene oxygenase 1. The hypothesis that higher dietary β-carotene intake and serum level results in higher β-carotene-mediated signalling is partly questioned. Alternative autoregulatory mechanisms in β-carotene / retinoid-mediated signalling are highlighted to better predict and optimise nutritional strategies involving β-carotene-related health beneficial mediated effects.
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Ejected all-trans retinol associates with RBP4 and transthyretin to form a complex that allows movement through lymphatic and cardiovascular vessels.
“Ejected all-trans retinol then associates with RBP4 and transthyretin to form a complex that allows movement through lymphatic and cardiovascular vessels [1,2,3] (Figure 1).”
From Vitamin A Transporters in Visual Function: A Mini Review on Membrane Receptors for Dietary Vitamin A Uptake, Storage, and Transport to the Eye (2021) · cites this paper as [3]
Vitamin A in all forms found in biological processes is derived from two dietary sources: β-carotene from plant sources and retinyl palmitate from animal sources.
“The base isoprenoid structure of vitamin A in all forms found in biological processes are derived from two dietary sources: β-carotene from plant sources and retinyl palmitate from animal sources [1,2,3].”
From Vitamin A Transporters in Visual Function: A Mini Review on Membrane Receptors for Dietary Vitamin A Uptake, Storage, and Transport to the Eye (2021) · cites this paper as [3]
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- Authors
- Bohn, T., Desmarchelier, C., El, S. N., Keijer, J., van Schothorst, E., Rühl, R., & Borel, P.
- Affiliations
- Luxembourg Institute of Health (LU)
- Inserm (FR)
- Ege University (TR)
- Wageningen University & Research (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Rühl, Ralph
- Venue
- Proceedings of the Nutrition Society
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2019-02
- Volume
- 78
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 68-87
- ISSN
- 0029-6651 (ISSN-L)
- 1475-2719
- OpenAlex
- W2912666599
- Cited by
- 156
- References
- 12
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 48 · 2023: 28 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 1.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Proceedings of The Nutrition Society (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling (acceptedVersion)
- HAL AMU (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Proceedings of The Nutrition Society (submittedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Retinoids in leukemia and cellular processes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activities
- Keywords
- beta-carotene, carotenoid metabolism, retinoids, retinoid X receptor, nuclear receptors, carotenoid bioavailability, tissue distribution, excretion, autoregulation, chronic disease prevention
- MeSH terms
- Biological Availability, Digestion, Humans, Tissue Distribution, beta Carotene, Metabolic Networks and Pathways
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