Evidence suggests that monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats facilitate greater absorption of carotenoids than saturated fats. However, the comparison of consuming a polyunsaturated fat source versus a saturated fat source on tomato carotenoid bioaccumulation has not been examined. The goal of this study was to determine the influence of coconut oil and safflower oil on tomato carotenoid tissue accumulation in Mongolian gerbils ( Meriones unguiculatus ) fed a 20% fat diet. Coconut oil feeding increased carotenoid concentrations among many compartments including total carotenoids in the serum (p = 0.0003), adrenal glandular phytoene (p = 0.04), hepatic phytofluene (p = 0.0001), testicular all-trans-lycopene (p = 0.01), and cis-lycopene (p = 0.006) in the prostate-seminal vesicle complex compared to safflower oil. Safflower oil-fed gerbils had greater splenic lycopene concentrations (p = 0.006) compared to coconut oil-fed gerbils. Coconut oil feeding increased serum cholesterol (p = 0.0001) and decreased hepatic cholesterol (p = 0.0003) compared to safflower oil. In summary, coconut oil enhanced tissue uptake of tomato carotenoids to a greater degree than safflower oil. These results may have been due to the large proportion of medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil, which might have caused a shift in cholesterol flux to favor extrahepatic carotenoid tissue deposition.

Tomato carotenoids have demonstrated anti‐cancer bioactivity, and co‐consumption of carotenoids with a polyunsaturated fat source has been shown to enhance bioavailability. To investigate the effect of fatty acid chain length and saturation on tomato carotenoid tissue accumulation, Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) were fed a 20% fat diet. Gerbils (n = 40) were fed control diets with safflower or coconut oil, or experimental diets containing 10% tomato powder and coconut oil or 10% tomato powder and safflower oil for 28 days. Coconut oil increased carotenoids among many compartments including total carotenoids in the serum (p = 0.0001), adrenal glandular phytoene (p = 0.047), hepatic phytofluene (p = 0.0001), testicular all‐trans lycopene (p = 0.01), and cis‐lycopene (p = 0.006) in the prostate‐seminal vesicle complex compared to safflower oil. Safflower oil‐fed gerbils had greater splenic lycopene (p = 0.006) compared to coconut oil fed gerbils. Coconut oil also increased serum cholesterol (p = 0.0001), and decreased hepatic cholesterol (p = 0.0003) compared to safflower oil suggesting a shift in the carotenoid‐rich LDL cholesterol flux that may have facilitated extrahepatic carotenoid tissue deposition. In summary, dietary fatty acid profiles may impact both lipid metabolisms and tissue carotenoid deposition.Grant Funding Source : Funded in part by the Khatchaturian family

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