ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the dietary intakes of carotenoids in Chinese adults.Method One hundred and eighty four 30-60 year-old adults(84 males and 100 females) from three different communities were recruited in the investigation.The dietary samples were collected by double-servings in every season of the year respectively.The double sample comprised all the foods of continuous 3 d at equal variety and quantity,and were analyzed by HPLC for the contents of ?-carotene,?-carotene,?-cryptoxanthin,lycopene,and lutein/zeaxanthin.Results The dietary samples were collected and analyzed from 184,184,169,and 161 subjects in summer,autumn,winter and spring respectively.The dietary intakes of ?-carotene,?-carotene,?-cryptoxanthin,lycopene,and lutein+zeaxanthin in the investigated subjects in summer were 2.48?2.71mg,276.6?469.4 ?g,86.9?241.4 ?g,2.16?3.38 mg,and 1.48?1.65 mg respectively.Those in autumn were 3.39?4.10 mg,271.7?462.8 ?g,339.9?1016.8 ?g,0.25?1.34 mg and 2.07?3.00 mg respectively.Those in winter were 2.85?3.76 mg,302.7?622.6 ?g,108.8?142.3 ?g,0.36?1.46 mg and 1.97?3.00 mg.and those in spring were 3.76?3.35 mg,162.4?413.9 ?g,42.1?93.8 ?g,0.86?1.39 mg and 6.10?6.26 mg respecfively.The lycopene intakes were relatively higher in summer,?-cryptoxanthin higher in autumn,and lutein/ zeaxanthin higher in spring.The intakes of ?-and ?-carotene were relatively less fluctuated by seasons.Generally,the subjects from the central urban community consumed more carotenoids than those from the outskirt community and the rural village,with the only exception of lutein/zeaxanthin intake in spring.Conclusion The dietary carotenoids intakes in Chinese adults were studied,and the data would be helpful for further researches about carotenoids nutrition among Chinese population.