Foods fortified with beta-carotene should not be ignored

Recently, international experts published a conference consensus document in the Journal of Nutrition, in which experts highly emphasized the importance of vitamin A precursor - beta-carotene, as it can increase total vitamin A. A content.
In the conference consensus document, experts in medicine and nutrition reinterpreted beta-carotene in terms of physiology, supply status and recommended intake.
DSM Nutraceuticals Ltd hosted the meeting, which was led by Tillman of Biochemistry and Nutrition Research at the University of Hohenheim. Gruen (Tilman.Grune) professor and some other professors.
The meeting consensus focused on the conversion of beta-carotene to vitamin A and the function of increasing total vitamin A intake.
DSM spokesman Peter. Engel (Peter Engel) said that at present, a large part of the European, American and Asian populations have insufficient intake of vitamin A precursors, so fortifying foods with beta-carotene and dietary supplements can help improve this situation.
vitamin precursor
Gruen said that the main function of beta-carotene is that it can be converted into vitamin A, which has been demonstrated in many studies on the recommended intake of vitamin A, and that beta-carotene has other important functions, but These functions have not been demonstrated in humans, and there is no difference between natural beta-carotene and chemically synthesized beta-carotene.
vitamin deficiency
Experts say dietary beta-carotene intake is uneven among the population, and recent studies have shown that parts of the world's population are not consuming dietary vitamin A precursors to increase vitamin A intake.
In the United States and the United Kingdom, most people consume 1-2 mg/day of beta-carotene, while a significant portion of the Asian population has low intakes of vitamin A precursors. It can be seen from the data in the national survey and food composition that a considerable number of people need to supplement beta-carotene.
Young people can show mild vitamin A deficiency if they do not get enough total vitamin A, but vitamin A is very important for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
recommended intake
The researchers pointed out that although consumption of fruits and vegetables can help increase the amount of vitamin A, the daily intake of 2 to 4 mg of beta-carotene does not meet the recommended intake standard.
The difference between total vitamin A intake and vitamin A precursor intake can well explain the function of vitamin A precursor conversion to vitamin A. To narrow the difference, additional intake of vitamin A precursor is necessary.
For 95% of the population to meet the recommended total vitamin A intake, the recommended intake of beta-carotene should be raised to 7 mg/day, Gruen and colleagues said.
importance
peter. Engel (Peter Engel) added that the recent media reports of some high-risk smokers eating beta-carotene to develop lung cancer phenomenon have made people distrust and care about fortified and supplemented foods. These events exacerbate the vitamin deficiency situation, and beta-carotene must be given great attention as a safe vitamin A supplement.