Vitamin A deficiency is a serious public health problem in the world. In Brazilian Amazonia, some native fruits may be pointed as good sources of this vitamin, provided their abundant pro-vitamin A present high bioavailability. The present study evaluated the bioavailability of carotenoids from Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa L.) in rats. Forty eight recently weaned male Wistar rats (Rattus novergicus, var. albinus, Rodentia: Mammalia), mean weight 33.8 ± 1.7g, were separated into five groups as follows: Deficient, Control 1200, Control 2400, Buriti 1200 and Buriti 2400. All diets were prepared according to the Committee on Laboratory Animal Diets (1993). After 28 days, the liver and plasma contents of all animals were analysed for Vitamin A and carotene levels. The lowest plasmatic and hepatic levels of Vitamin A were observed in the Deficient Group, while hepatic Vitamin A reserves of the animals from the Buriti 1200 and Buriti 2400 Groups were significantly higher than the Control 1200 and Control 2400 Groups respectively. The results of the study showed that buriti is a highly bioavailable source of pro-vitamin A, with a relative efficiency of 254.6% (1200ER/Kg diet) and 179.4% (2400/Kg diet) when compared with the respective control groups, indicating a higher carotenoids bioavailability, near recommended doses.
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