Bioavailability of β-Cryptoxanthin in the Presence of Phytosterols: In Vitro and in Vivo Studies

Bioactive compounds are used in the design and development of new food products with potential health benefits, although little is known regarding their bioavailability and interactions. This study assessed the stability, in vitro bioaccessibility, and human bioavailability of beta-cryptoxanthin from beta-cryptoxanthin-rich drinks with and without added phytosterols developed for this purpose. The developed drinks showed no difference in the content of beta-cryptoxanthin, and they were stable over 6 months. In vitro, hydrolysis of beta-cryptoxanthin esters and the amount of free beta-cryptoxanthin at duodenal and micellar phases were similar regardless of the presence of phytosterols. In the human study, the daily intake provoked significant increments of beta-cryptoxanthin in serum regardless of the type of the drink. In conclusion, in vitro and in vivo human studies have shown that the bioavailability of beta-cryptoxanthin is not significantly affected by the presence of phytosterols when they are simultaneously supplied in a drink.