Beta-apo-8′-carotenal uptake and metabolism in intestinal cells
What it found
In lab-grown intestinal cells, beta-apo-8′-carotenal was taken up quickly and mostly changed into other compounds.
The authors say these carotenoid pieces are probably not absorbed directly from the diet.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Fast uptake
Beta-apo-8′-carotenal was taken up quickly by the intestinal cells.
Main conversion product
Most of the beta-apo-8′-carotenal was changed into beta-apo-8′-carotenoic acid.
Minor product
A smaller amount became a compound the authors identified as 5,6-epoxy-beta-apo-8′-carotenol.
Other apocarotenals
Beta-apo-10′-carotenal was also taken up quickly and turned mainly into 5,6-epoxy-beta-apo-10′-carotenol, with a smaller amount likely becoming a dihydro form. Beta-apo-13-carotenone was taken up quickly and broken down extensively.
Likely not absorbed
The authors say these results suggest dietary beta-apocarotenals are broken down extensively in intestinal cells, so they are probably not absorbed directly from the diet.
What the authors conclude
“These results suggest that dietary β-apocarotenals are extensively metabolized in intestinal cells via pathways similar to the metabolism of retinal. Thus, they are likely not absorbed directly from the diet.”
Also in their conclusions
- They suggest that dietary beta-apocarotenals are extensively metabolized in intestinal cells through pathways similar to how retinal is metabolized.
- They conclude that these compounds are likely not absorbed directly from the diet.
How it was done
These compounds form when carotenoids break down and are found in foods that contain carotenoids. The authors wanted to know if they can be absorbed directly from the diet, because little was known about their absorption in the gut.
They grew Caco-2 cells on plastic plates until they formed a single layer like the gut lining. They mixed beta-apocarotenoids with Tween 40 micelles, added them to the cells in serum-free medium, and kept them at 37°C for up to 8 hours.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- These are lab-grown cells, not people. They can't show what happens in the human gut.
- The cells were exposed for up to 8 hours, so the results may not reflect longer-term exposure.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by NIDDK NIH HHS; NHLBI NIH HHS (from the PubMed record).
- Conflicts
- The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
- Authors work at
- Departments of Human Sciences Ohio State University, OH; Ohio State University, OH
The paper
- Title
- Uptake and metabolism of β-apo-8'-carotenal, β-apo-10'-carotenal, and β-apo-13-carotenone in Caco-2 cells
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Animals and lab studies
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Durojaye BO, Riedl KM, Curley RW, Harrison EH (2019). Uptake and metabolism of β-apo-8'-carotenal, β-apo-10'-carotenal, and β-apo-13-carotenone in Caco-2 cells. Journal of lipid research. doi:10.1194/jlr.M093161Free full textPubMed 30846527DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error