Question

How are retinol and beta carotine absorbed and further used up by our body?​

Answer 1

Answer:

• The breakdown of beta-carotene occurs in the walls of the small intestine (intestinal mucosa) and is catalyzed by the enzyme β-carotene dioxygenase to form retinal. Reduction Reaction: The retinal reduced to retinol by retinaldehyde reductase in the intestines.

Answer 2

Answer:

Vitamin A is found in animal-based foods as retinyl esters (mainly retinyl palmitate). In fruits and vegetables, it occurs as provitamin A carotenoids (mainly β-carotene, α-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin), which can be cleaved and metabolized into retinol after absorption by the intestinal cells (Table 1).