Provitamin A Absorption and Conversion With Avocados

The primary objective of this study will be to demonstrate that adding avocados to a carotene rich meal will promote the absorption of provitamin A carotenoids and enhance the delivery of greater quantities of vitamin A. This objective will be accomplished by quantitation of the immediate post-prandial plasma concentrations of parent carotenoids and vitamin A metabolites after subjects consume a meal with or without avocado in combination with a serving of tomato sauce (containing nutritionally relevant amounts of beta-carotene) or carrots. The secondary objective of this study will be to determine if higher levels of carotenoids and other antioxidants transported in the bloodstream will have a protective role in promoting cardiovascular health. This objective will be accomplished by testing the oxidation capacity of lipoprotein fractions before and after meal supplementation.