Cooking Enhances but the Degree of Ripeness Does Not Affect Provitamin A Carotenoid Bioavailability from Bananas in Mongolian Gerbils4

Abstract

Banana is a staple crop in many regions where vitamin A deficiency is prevalent, making it a target for provitamin A biofortification. However, matrix effects may limit provitamin A bioavailability from bananas. The retinol bioefficacies of unripe and ripe bananas (study 1A), unripe high-provitamin A bananas (study 1B), and raw and cooked bananas (study 2) were determined in retinol-depleted Mongolian gerbils (n = 97/study) using positive and negative controls. After feeding a retinol-deficient diet for 6 and 4 wk in studies 1 and 2, respectively, customized diets containing 60, 30, or 15% banana were fed for 17 and 13 d, respectively. In study 1A, the hepatic retinol of the 60% ripe Cavendish group (0.52 ± 0.13 μmol retinol/liver) differed from baseline (0.65 ± 0.15 μmol retinol/liver) and was higher than the negative control group (0.39 ± 0.16 μmol retinol/liver; P < 0.0065). In study 1B, no groups differed from baseline (0.65 ± 0.15 μmol retinol/liver; P = 0.20). In study 2, the 60% raw Butobe group (0.68 ± 0.17 μmol retinol/liver) differed from the 60% cooked Butobe group (0.87 ± 0.24 μmol retinol/liver); neither group differed from baseline (0.80 ± 0.27 μmol retinol/liver; P < 0.0001). Total liver retinol was higher in the groups fed cooked bananas than in those fed raw (P = 0.0027). Body weights did not differ even though gerbils ate more green, ripe, and raw bananas than cooked, suggesting a greater indigestible component. In conclusion, thermal processing, but not ripening, improves the retinol bioefficacy of bananas. Food matrix modification affects carotenoid bioavailability from provitamin A biofortification targets.

Maize Genotype and Food Matrix Affect the Provitamin A Carotenoid Bioefficacy from Staple and Carrot-Fortified Feeds in Mongolian Gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

“…11 The theoretical retinol, based on 100% bioefficacy of all feeds (Table 1), exceeded gerbil requirements, which allowed for ample liver storage. Fiber content was lowest in RC feed and highest in the VA-free feeds ( P < 0.0001).…”

Pro‐vitamin A carotenoids in East African highland banana and other Musa cultivars grown in Uganda

“…Carotenoid accessibility and bioavailability are clearly improved by food processing (Ryan, O'Connell, O'Sullivan, Aherne, & O'Brien, 2008). Nevertheless, cooking of green banana has been shown to make a significant twofold improvement to their retinol bioefficacy in Mongolian gerbils (Bresnahan et al, 2012). Nevertheless, cooking of green banana has been shown to make a significant twofold improvement to their retinol bioefficacy in Mongolian gerbils (Bresnahan et al, 2012).…”

“…Conservative values based on a study by Bresnahan et al (2012 fruit from the same cultivars growing in western Uganda (Table 3). Conservative values based on a study by Bresnahan et al (2012 fruit from the same cultivars growing in western Uganda (Table 3).…”

“…Carotenoids obtained from raw dessert bananas are not only present in low quantities but are also poorly bioavailable due to the lack of cooking (Bresnahan et al, 2012). Carotenoids obtained from raw dessert bananas are not only present in low quantities but are also poorly bioavailable due to the lack of cooking (Bresnahan et al, 2012).…”

“…Retinol activity equivalents (RAE) -conversion factor from β-carotene equivalents to RAE for raw banana was 12:1 and 6:1 for cooked banana. Conservative values based on a study by Bresnahan et al (2012 Values in bold exceed the Banana 21 project target which is to achieve at least 50% of the vitamin A EAR. fruit from the same cultivars growing in western Uganda (Table 3).…”