ISSN:
1365-2109
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
Notes:
Gastrointestinal and serum absorption of astaxanthin was studied in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) (217 ± 2 g) fed diets supplemented with either esterified astaxanthin (from Haematococcus pluvialis) or free astaxanthin (synthetic, as 8% w/w beadlets) at similar levels (50 mg kg−1). After 56 days of feeding, there was a significant difference (P = 0.0582) between steady-state serum astaxanthin concentrations for fish fed free (2.0 ± 0.3 μg mL−1) or esterified astaxanthin (1.3 ± 0.1 μg mL−1) at the 90% confidence level. However, following ingestion of a single meal supplemented with free or esterified astaxanthin, the rates of astaxanthin absorption into serum were not significantly different (P 〉 0.1) (0.8 ± 0.2 µg mL−1 h−1 and 1.0 ± 0.4 µg mL−1 h−1 respectively). In fish fed both free or esterified astaxanthin, higher absorption (P 〈 0.05) of astaxanthin by the ileal (0.8 ± 0.14 μg g−1 and 0.9 ± 0.15 μg g−1 respectively) compared with the posterior (0.2 ± 0.01 μg g−1 and 0.3 ± 0.14 μg g−1 respectively) intestine was recorded. This confirmed the role of the anterior intestine in carotenoid absorption. Non-detectable levels of esters in digesta taken from the hind intestine suggest the anterior intestine is also the primary region for ester hydrolysis.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2109.2002.00680.x
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