Monolayers of differentiated Caco-2 cells were used to confirm that
pro-vitamin A carotenoids in the micelle fraction were available for uptake.
Uptake (%) of all-E-βC and αC by Caco-2 cells from medium containing
micelles generated during digestion of cooked pumpkin
ranged from 12 to 19% and from 11 to 16%, respectively (data not
shown). Z-βC uptake was below the limit of detection. Cellular content
of both all-E-βC and αC (Fig. 2) was proportional to the quantities of
these carotenoids present in the bioaccessible fraction (Table 2), and
not necessarily proportional to the pro-vitamin A content in the different
genotypes (Table 1). Caco-2 cells incubated in medium containing
mixed micelles generated during digestion of boiled and steamed pulp
from genotype 58 accumulated the highest concentrations of all-E-βC
and αC (Fig. 2).