Biofortified Orange Maize Enhances β-Cryptoxanthin Concentrations in Egg Yolks of Laying Hens Better than Tangerine Peel Fortificant
Abstract
The xanthophyll β-cryptoxanthin provides vitamin A and has other purported health benefits. Laying hens deposit xanthophyll carotenoids into egg yolk. Hens (n = 8/group) were fed conventional-bred high β-cryptoxanthin biofortified (orange) maize, tangerine peel-fortified white maize, lutein-fortified yellow maize, or white maize for 40 d to investigate yolk color changes using L*a*b* scales, yolk carotenoid enhancement, and hen vitamin A status. Yolks from hens fed orange maize had scores indicating a darker, orange color and mean higher β-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, and β-carotene concentrations (8.43 ± 1.82, 23.1 ± 4.8, 0.16 ± 0.08 nmol/g, respectively) than other treatments (P
Citation
Heying, E.K.; Tanumihardjo, J.P.; Vasic, V.; Cook, M.; Palacios-Rojas, N.; Tanumihardjo, S.A. Biofortified Orange Maize Enhances β-Cryptoxanthin Concentrations in Egg Yolks of Laying Hens Better than Tangerine Peel Fortificant. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (2014) 62 (49) 11892-11900. [DOI: 10.1021/jf5037195]