Vitamin D refers to a group of secosteroid compounds and recognized as the antirachitic vitamin, as it counters rickets, mineral desorption from fully-grown bones (Osteodistrophy), bone, joint disorders, and fragility of bones. On one hand, there is scarcity of vitamin D rich food while on other hand a number of factors negotiate its absorption efficiency in human gastrointestinal tract (GIT). These factors include variations in the physiochemical state of the vitamin D (molecular forms, potency and their physiological linkages), the complexity of food matrix (the amount and type of fatty acids, dietary fibers and presence/absence of vitamin D enhancer and inhibitor), and its interaction of other fat soluble compounds with vitamin D as well as the host-associated factors (age, disease, surgery, obesity, genetic variation etc.). It is hypothesized that the bioavailability of vitamin D in GIT is compromised if there changes within these factors. Present article is intended to review the contribution of these factors anticipated to be influencing vitamin D absorption in GIT.

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Abstract. Carotenoids and their metabolites play crucial roles in human health such as in immunity, cell differentiation, embryonic development, maintenance of plasma membrane integrity, and gastrointestinal functions, in addition to counteracting night blindness and other eye-related diseases. However, carotenoid bioavailability is highly variable and often low. The bioavailability of β-carotene, among the most frequently consumed carotenoid from the diet, is determined by food matrix related factors such as carotenoid dose, its location in food the matrix, the physical state in food, the presence of other food compounds in the matrix such as dietary fiber, dietary lipids, other micronutrients present such as minerals, and food processing, influencing also the size of food particles, and the presence of absorption inhibitors (fat replacers and anti-obesity drugs) or enhancers (nano-/micro-formulations). However, also host-related factors such as physiochemical interactions by gastrointestinal secretions (enzyme and salts) and other host-related factors such as surgery, age, disease, obesity, and genetic variations have shown to play a role. This review contributes to the knowledge regarding factors affecting the bioavailability of β-carotene (food and host-relegated), as well as highlights in vitro models employed to evaluate β-carotene bioavailability aspects.

The FD method was observed to be the most efficient drying method for retaining capsaicin content over other drying methods (SD, HD, MVD), whereas MVD was found to be most efficient in minimizing the loss to nutritional attributes for all five pepper cultivars. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

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