Changes in serum carotene concentrations
Changes in serum carotene concentrations are shown in Table 6.The increase in serum b-carotene concentrations compared with the amount of b-carotene provided was 5–6 times higher in the fruit group than in the vegetable group: change in serum concentration(mmol/L)/amount provided (mg/d) = 0.52/2.3 compared with
0.14/3.5. In the vegetable group, the increase in serum carotene compared with the amount of carotene provided was higher for lutein than for b-carotene. In the fruit group, the increase in serum carotene compared with the amount of carotene provided was highest for bcryptoxanthin, lower for b-carotene, and lowest for lycopene.