Extraction of carotenoids from feces, enabling the bioavailability of beta-carotene to be studied in Indonesian children.

Previously, we have presented a method for quantifying beta-carotene bioavailability based on analysis in serum, following administration of (13)C-labeled beta-carotene. Because stool samples can be collected noninvasively, we have now extended the method to measure the bioavailability based on measurements in feces. An extraction method was developed to enable measurement of concentrations and degree of isotopic enrichment of retinol, retinyl palmitate and carotenoids in feces. Relative bioavailability of beta-carotene from pumpkin (n = 6) was found to be 1.8 times (interval, 0.6, 5.5) greater than that from spinach (n = 8), based on data from feces compared with 1.7 times (interval, 0.9, 3.1) based on data from serum.