• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.256-261
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• 1996

Carotenoids are abundant int he Korean food supply. The intake of foods rich in carotenoids appears to be associated with optimal health, and a reduction in the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, macular degeneration and cataract formation. Specific dietary carotenoids may be responsible for these specific protective effects. Hydrocarbon carotenoids such as $\alpha$-,$\beta$-carotenes and lycopene may reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease, whereas oxygenated carotenoids, such as lutein and zeaxanthin, may be important in protection of the eye. Dietary carotenoids, such as lutein, cryptoxanthin, $\alpha$-carotene, $\beta$-carotene and lycopene can be readily obtained from the diet, Green leafy vegetables, such as spinach and broccoli, contain both oxygenated and hydrocarbon carotenoids ; yellow or orange vegetables, such as carrots, have high levels of $\alpha$-carotene and $\beta$-carotene ; and tomatoes contain high amounts of lycopene. Besides being important vitamin A sources, provitamin A carotenoids such as $\alpha$-carotene, $\beta$-carotene and cryptoxanthin, participate in the cell defense systems that are associated with radical quenching. Non-provitamin A carotenoids, such as lutein and lycopene, major carotenoids in human plasma, have also been reported to possess strong antioxidant capability. The alteration of dietary sources of carotenoids can modify their levels in the circulation and target tissues, and thus prevent or delay the onset of these chronic diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.117-123
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• 2007

HPLC quantifications of fresh and cooked (steamed/microwaved) spinach, one of the most frequently consumed vegetables in foodservice operations, were carried out to determine carotenoids compositions. An S-3 $\mu$m C30 stationary phase for reversed-phase columns with diode-array detection was used to separate and quantify geometric isomers of provitamin A carotenoids in the fresh and cooked spinach. The carotenoids in fresh spinach were identified and quantified: Lutein (63.0%), $\beta$-carotene isomers (all-trans 29.6%, 9-cis 3.2%, 13-cis 1.8%, $\alpha$-carotene 0.4%, zeaxanthin 2.1%) and cryptoxanthin. Cryptoxanthin, detected in a trace amount in HPLC, was not quantified in this study. Lutein was little affected by cooking methods and frozen conditions. 9-cis and 13-cis-$\beta$-carotene isomers were major types formed during cooking. Cooking (steam/microwave) did not alter carotenoid profiles of the samples, but the amounts of carotenoids quantified were greater than those in the fresh samples. Heat treatment such as steaming increased total carotenoids contents, especially trans-$\beta$-carotene (p<0.05). The carotenoid contents of the frozen spinach increased even after the microwaved treatment (p<0.05). These increases were likely to result from the increased extraction efficiency and inactivation of enzymes capable of carotenoids degrading during the heat treatments.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.389-396
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• 1992

Provitamin A carotenoids($\alpha$- $\beta$-carotene lutein capsanthin) cintents in various red pepper and red pepper products were analyzed by HPLC and UV/VIS spectroscopy. The amounts of $\beta$-carotene and capsanthin were at its highest in powdered red pepper and lutein in red pepper leaves. There are little $\alpha$-carotene present in all samples analyzed. So vitamin A activity was calculated only from $\beta$-carotene content. Capsanthin and $\beta$-carotene contents of red pepper were higher than those of green pepper whereas lutein content of red pepper was lower than that of green pepper. whereas lutein content of red pepper was lower than that of green pepper. Vitamin A activity from colorimetric analysis was higher than that from chromatographic method and results were not generally in accordance with the vitamin A data presented in current food composition tables. Vitamin A activities in retinol equivalent(R. E. ) of green pepper red pepper powdered red pepper fermented red pepper paste and red pepper leaves were 70, 570, 1, 340, 140, 980 R. E respectively.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2012

Dietary intakes and plasma concentrations of retinol and carotenoids were estimated in assessing the vitamin A status of Korean adults living in Seoul and the metropolitan area. Three consecutive 24-h food recalls were collected from 106 healthy subjects (33 males and 73 females) aged 20-59 years. Fasting blood samples of the subjects were obtained and plasma retinol and carotenoids were analyzed. The daily vitamin A intakes ($mean{\pm}SD$) were $887.77{\pm}401.35{\mu}g $ retinol equivalents or $531.84{\pm}226.42{\mu}g$ retinol activity equivalents. There were no significant differences in vitamin A intakes among age groups. The retinol intake of subjects was $175.92{\pm}129.87{\mu}g/day$. The retinol intake of the subjects in their 50's was significantly lower than those in their 20's and 30's (P<0.05). Provitamin A carotenoid intakes were $3,828.37{\pm}2,196.29{\mu}g/day$ ${\beta}$-carotene, $472.57{\pm}316.68{\mu}g/day$ ${\alpha}$-carotene, and $412.83{\pm}306.46{\mu}g/day$ ${\beta}$-cryptoxanthin. Approximately 17% of the subjects consumed vitamin A less than the Korean Estimated Average Requirements for vitamin A. The plasma retinol concentration was $1.22{\pm}0.34{\mu}mol/L$. There was no significant difference in plasma retinol concentrations among age groups. However, the concentrations of ${\beta}$-carotene, lycopene, and lutein of subjects in their 50's were significantly higher than those of in their 20's. Only one subject had a plasma retinol concentration < $0.70{\mu}mol/L$ indicating marginal vitamin A status. Plasma retinol concentration in 30% of the subjects was 0.70- < $1.05{\mu}mol/L$, which is interpreted as the concentration possibly responsive to greater intake of vitamin A. In conclusion, dietary intakes and status of vitamin A were generally adequate in Korean adults examined in this study.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.411-419
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• 2022

Carotenoids are red, orange, and yellow fat-soluble pigments that exist in nature, and are known as physiologically active substances with various functions, such as provitamin A, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer. Because of their physiological activity and color availability, carotenoids are widely used in the food, cosmetics, and aquaculture industries. Currently, most carotenoids used industrially use chemical synthesis because of their low production cost, but natural carotenoids are in the spotlight because of their safety and physiologically active effects. However, the production of carotenoids in plants and animals is limited for economic reasons. Carotenoids produced by bacteria have a good advantage in replacing carotenoids produced by chemical synthesis. Since carotenoids produced from bacteria have limited industrial applications due to low productivity, studies are continuously being conducted to increase the production of carotenoids by bacteria. Studies conducted to increase carotenoid production from bacteria include the activity of enzymes in the bacterial carotenoid biosynthesis pathway, the development of mutant strains using physical and chemical mutagens, increasing carotenoid productivity in strain construction through genetic engineering, carotenoid accumulation through stress induction, fermentation medium composition, culture conditions, co-culture with other strains, etc. The aim of this article was to review studies conducted to increase the productivity of carotenoids from bacteria.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.1297-1306
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• 1998

Carotenoids are yellow to orange red pigments that are ubiquitous in the nature and its annual pro duction amounts to one hundred million ton. This review discussed physicochemical properties, antiox idative activity, anticancer activity of carotenoids and its production technology. Carotenoids, mainly used as food colourants, are characterized by its strong reactive conjugated double bonds, related to oxidation by heat, light, acid, and metal ions. The provitamin A activity of carotenoids is higher in trans form than in cis form. Antioxidative properties of carotenoids are related to ionone structure and long, conjugated polyene chain number. In particular, carotene, astaxanthin, canthaxanthin, and lycopene possess strong antioxidant activity, compared with tocopherol. Especially, carotene, astaxanthin, carotene, fucoxanthin, halocynthiaxanthin and peridinin impart strong anticancer activity against lung cancer, breast cancer, buccal pouch cancer and nerve cell cancer. Carotene and astaxanthin are produced by biotechnology using algae such as Dunaliella salina and Haematococcus pluvalis. But the change of cultivation conditions and screening of algae, efficiently producing carotenoids, are needed for its commercial production. Carotenoids are expected to be used in the various fields through explanation of its biological activity and establishment of commercial production technology.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.389-397
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• 2022

A total of 51 vegetables and fruits, commonly consumed agriculture products in Korea, were analyzed for their α-carotene, β-carotene, and β-cryptoxanthin contents as provitamin A. The beta-carotene content (㎍/100 g) was high in a few green leaf vegetables such as coriander (5,924.07), gegeol radish leaf (5.855.72), and curried mallow (5,138.01), while α-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin contents were not detected. The β-carotene in 8 kinds of 20 general vegetables was detected in the range of 214.06~1,437.67 ㎍/100 g, while α-carotene was detected at 460.17 ㎍/100 g in only old pumpkin. The β-cryptoxanthin was detected in the range of 106.55~315.49 ㎍/100 g in Japanese elm, watermelon, white cucumber, and lettuce. However, carotenoids were not detected in 10 kinds of agricultural products including oriental melon, potato, etc. In fruits, the beta-carotene contents ranged from 165.72~3,997.39 ㎍/100 g, showing maximum value in apple mango and minimum value in persimmon. The β-cryptoxanthin was detected at 232.22 ㎍/100 g in only passion fruit, while the α-carotene was detected at 77.25 ㎍/100 g in only darae. Thus, based on the analyzed results of carotenoids of agriculture products consumed or cultivated in Korea, and it was found that green leaf vegetables comprise high beta-carotene overall.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.391-395
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• 1985

The Retionl Equivalent value and the composition of carotenoids in hen, quail and duck eggs were investigated by thin-layer chromatography. Total carotenoid contents per gram yolk were great in order of hen＞duck＞quail and retinol contents, quail＞duck＞hen. In Retinol Equivalent value, quail showed the highest level and hen showed the lowest level. In hen and quail, the contents of lutein and zeaxanthin of egg yolk were about 75% of their total carotenoid contents and they were about 60% in duck. In all cases, the sum of the concentration of lutein and zeaxantin accounted for more than 60% of the total carotenoid.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.489-498
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• 1997

Recent researches suggest that carotenoids are important not only as provitamin A but also for prevention of chronic diseases. This study was conduction to determine levels and factors affecting serum levels of lutein + zeaxanthin, $\beta$-cryptoxanthin, and $\beta$-carotene in 93 adults living in rural area of Korea. Fasting blood samples were collected and serum carotenoid levels were measured by HPLC. Dietary intake was estimated by 24 hour recall method and frequency questionnare of major food groups. Mean serum concentration of lutein + zeaxanthin was 616.32 nmol/L, $\beta$-cryptoxanthin was 856.95nmol/L, and $\beta$-carotene was 242.90nmol/L. Serum $\beta$-carotene levels in study subjects were very low. Both $\beta$-cryptxanthin and $\beta$-carotene were negatively correlated with serum triglyceride and positively correlated with total-choesterol and LDL-cholesterol. Serum levels of female subjects were significantly higher than males in all carotenoids. For age groups, subjects in their 30's were shown to have the highest concentration of all carotenoids. Lutein + zeaxanthin were lowest in subjects in theri 40's while $\beta$-crytoxanthin and $\beta$-carotene levels were lowest in subjects in their 60's. The $\beta$-carotene levels in non-smokers were significantly higher than in drinkers. Lutein+zeaxanthin levels were significantly higher among subjects consuming more green and yellow vegetables by frequency questionnarie. In conclusion, serum carotenoids were affected by sex, age, serum lipids, smoking, and alcohol intake. Intake of vegetables and fruits could affect by sex, serum lipids, smoking, and alchol intake. Intake of vegetables and fruits could affect serum lutein+zeaxanthin level. This data indicated that compared to other studies, Korean adults in rural areas have high lutein+zeaxanthin concentratins and low $\beta$-carotene concentrations in serum. High lutein+zeaxanthin levels may be related to high consumption of vegetables in these subjects.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.683-688
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• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different cooking methods on the nutrient composition of genetically modified (GM) provitamin A(PA)-biofortified rice. PA-biofortified rice was subjected to different cooking methods, namely boiling and a soaking, steaming and roasting process. The proximate components (starch, protein, lipid and ash) of raw PA-biofortified rice were similar to those found in the parental non-GM rice, and were not significantly affected by a conventional boiling treatment. When compared with raw rice, boiled PA-biofortified rice showed a similar nutrient composition, despite a slight reduction in a majority of its amino acid contents. However, the PA-biofortified rice that underwent the soaking/steaming/roasting process exhibited a significant reduction in a majority of its amino acids and mineral contents. This procedure also led to a significant reduction in carotenoid contents. The overall results of this study demonstrate that using a conventional boiling method for PA-biofortified rice retains nutrients better than a soaking/steaming/roasting method.