Bioaccessibility of carotenoids, vitamin A and alpha-tocopherol, from commercial milk-fruit juice beverages: Contribution to the recommended daily intake

Twenty-two commercial milk-fruit juice beverages (MFJBs) were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector for carotenoids, retinol and α-tocopherol content. Bioaccessibility was also investigated by in vitro enzymatic digestion. Total carotenoids content and vitamin A calculated as retinol plus pro-vitamin A carotenoids varied widely among samples as well as the bioaccessibility, depending on the formulations. The predominant carotenoid present in all the samples was β-carotene, followed by α-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin, which were not detected in all the samples. One daily consumption of MFJB (200 mL) provides on average from 5% to 11% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin A, depending on the age group and a slightly higher value for α-tocopherol. The bioaccessibility of bioactive carotenoids in increasing order was the following: β-carotene < α-carotene < phytofluene = phytoene < lutein = β-cryptoxanthin < zeaxanthin. If we consider bioaccessibilities the contribution to the RDA is drastically reduced by 40% for vitamin A and about 13% for vitamin E.