Original Article
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2007) 61, 1167–1173; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602635; published online 31 January 2007
Effect of the main dietary antioxidants (carotenoids, 
-tocopherol, polyphenols, and vitamin C) on 
-tocopherol absorption
Contributors: PB and ER contributed to the conception of the cell experiments. PB and DL contributed to the design of the human study. M-JA provided significant advice about the choice and the use of the different microconstituents. ER carried out the practical aspects of the study, with help from ST for the cellular aspect and from EP for the postprandial study. ER and PB carried out the statistical analyses, and initially interpreted the data before writing the manuscript. PB wrote the first draft of the manuscript with help from ER. All authors participated in the writing of the final draft of the manuscript and in the final interpretation of the data. None of the authors had any conflicts of interest.
E Reboul1,2,3, S Thap1,2,3, E Perrot1,2,3, M-J Amiot1,2,3, D Lairon1,2,3 and P Borel1,2,3
- 1INSERM, U476 'Nutrition Humaine et Lipides', Marseille, France
- 2INRA, UMR1260, Marseille, France
- 3Univ Méditerranée Aix-Marseille 2, Faculté de Médecine, IPHM-IFR 125, Marseille, France
Correspondence: Dr P Borel, UMR 476 INSERM/1260 INRA, Faculté de Médecine, 27, Boulevard Jean-Moulin, 13385 Marseille Cedex 5, France. E-mail: Patrick.Borel@medecine.univ-mrs.fr
Received 26 October 2006; Revised 28 November 2006; Accepted 29 November 2006; Published online 31 January 2007.
Abstract
Objective:
(R,R,R)-
-tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant vitamin generally ingested with other dietary antioxidants. The objective of this study was to assess whether the main dietary antioxidant classes, that is carotenoids, polyphenols, vitamin C and 
-tocopherol, affect the intestinal absorption of -tocopherol.
Methods, design and subjects:
We evaluated first the effect of different combinations of antioxidants on (R,R,R)--tocopherol absorption by a human intestinal cell line (Caco-2 clone TC7). Then we compared the effect of two doses of a dietary antioxidant (lutein) on the postprandial chylomicron -tocopherol responses to an -tocopherol-rich meal. Eight healthy men ate two similar meals in a random order at a 1 month interval. The meals contained 24 mg -tocopherol in sunflower oil plus either 18 or 36 mg lutein. Blood samples were collected during the postprandial periods to compare chylomicron -tocopherol responses.
Results:
A mixture of polyphenols (gallic acid, caffeic acid, (+)-catechin and naringenin) and a mixture of carotenoids (lycopene, 
-carotene and lutein) significantly impaired -tocopherol absorption in Caco-2 cells (P<0.001 and P<0.0001, respectively). The inhibitory effect of -tocopherol was close to significance (P=0.055). In contrast, vitamin C had no significant effect (P=0.158). Naringenin was the only polyphenol that significantly impaired -tocopherol absorption. Postprandial -tocopherol response was weakest at the highest dose of lutein (616
280 nmol/l h vs 1001287 nmol/l h). The observed extent of reduction (-38%, P=0.069) supported the inhibitory effect of carotenoids observed in the Caco-2 experiments.
Conclusion:
Naringenin, carotenoids and probably -tocopherol can impair -tocopherol absorption whereas vitamin C and phenolic acids have no effect.
Keywords:
vitamin E, enterocyte, naringenin, (+)-catechin, gallic acid, caffeic acid
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