Effects on intestinal cellular bioaccessibility of carotenoids and cellular biological activity as a consequence of co-ingestion of anthocyanin- and carotenoid-rich vegetables.

The effects of co-digestion of a carotenoid-rich vegetable such as carrot, cherry tomato or baby spinach with an anthocyanin-rich vegetable such as red cabbage with and without salad dressing on the intestinal cellular bioaccessibility (cBAC) of carotenoids and the resultant cellular antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities were investigated. The % cBAC of lutein from the tested vegetables was 0.23-1.42%, lycopene 0.07-0.39%, α-carotene 0.01-0.12% and β-carotene 0.03-0.61% respectively. The % cBAC of each of these carotenoids from the co-digested vegetables was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than from carrot, cherry tomato or baby spinach digested alone. % cBAC of total carotenoids was significantly increased by 46-191% (p < 0.05) as a result of the co-digestion. The vegetable co-digestion did not result in any impairment on the resultant cellular anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation (NO, IL-8 secretion). Among the tested vegetables, baby spinach co-digested with red cabbage showed synergistic bioactivities in all tested assays.