类胡萝卜素代谢及功能研究进展

Recent Advances on Research of Carotenoid Metabolism and Functions

类胡萝卜素是维生素A的前体,不仅是动物体内维生素A的最主要来源,还在预防疾病、提高机体免疫力、维持动物正常生长与繁殖以及着色等方面发挥着重要的作用。随着研究的深入,类胡萝卜素在人类健康及动物生产中的作用日益受到重视,但其吸收、转运及代谢机制尚不完全明确。本文在论述类胡萝卜素的基本特征、吸收和转运的基础上,重点综述了类胡萝卜素的代谢机制以及生物活性功能方面的研究进展,为进一步研究类胡萝卜素的代谢机制、功能以及发掘新功能提供理论依据。

Carotenoids, as provitamin A, are not only main source of vitamin A for animals, but also perform important functions in disease prevention, immunity enhancement, normal growth and reproduction mainte-nance in animals and coloring. And with the development of research to the depth, the functions of carotenoids in human health and animal growth have been increasingly attached, but the mechanisms of absorption, trans-portation, metabolism were not known exactly. This review summarized the basic characteristics, absorption and transportation of carotenoids, and put emphasis on the recent advances of carotenoids metabolism mecha-nisms and biological activity functions research, which provided a theoretical basis for further study on research of carotenoids metabolism mechanisms and functions, and excavation of new functions.