21 Carotenoids as Anti-obesity Supplements
545
21.3 Carotenoids and Adipocyte/Adipose Tissue
Metabolism
21.3.1 Carotenoids Are Stored in Adipocytes and Adipose
Tissue
It is established since a long time that carotenoids are stored in adipose tissue
notably (Peirce 1954; Virtanen et al. 1996; Parker 1989; Chung et al. 2009; Landrier
et al. 2012). Lycopene and β-carotene are the predominant carotenoids in human
adipose tissue (Parker 1988, 1989). More precisely, Chung et al. identified lycopene
as the most present carotenoid in adipose tissue (more than 1/2), followed by βcarotene (approx. 1/3 of total carotenoids), lutein + zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin,
and α-carotene (Chung et al. 2009).
Total carotenoid concentration appears to be site-specific, with abdomen concentration being higher than in the buttocks or thigh (Chung et al. 2009). Adipose
tissue concentrations of carotenoids are similar between men and women (Chung
et al. 2009). Interestingly, most of the carotenoids are inversely correlated to fat
mass and to both general and central adiposity (Chung et al. 2009; Wallstrom et al.
2001), suggesting that during obesity carotenoids are sequestered in adipose tissue.
Conversely, weight loss is associated to an increase of lutein and zeaxanthin serum
concentration (Kirby et al. 2011). In the case of β-carotene, it is somehow noteworthy
that, even if its adipose tissue (?) concentration is lower in obese people, the total
pool of β-carotene is similar in obese and nonobese when taking into account the
total fat mass (Osth et al. 2014).
Factors governing adipose tissue carotenoids uptake, distribution, and turnover
are poorly understood, but we recently reported that carotenoid uptake by adipose
tissue was independent of the carotenoid physicochemical properties (Sy et al. 2012),
suggesting the involvement of putative transporters or facilitators. In agreement, we
demonstrated the involvement of CD36 in lycopene and lutein uptake by adipose
tissue and adipocytes (Moussa et al. 2011). In addition, we also showed that lycopene
was not only stored in lipid droplets in adipocytes, but is also present in plasma and
nuclear membranes (Gouranton et al. 2008).
Adipose tissue carotenoid content is usually considered as a good long-term indicator of dietary intake of carotenoids (Kardinaal et al. 1995). β-carotene concentration in adipose tissue increased 5 days after a large oral dose consumption (Johnson
et al. 1995). Lutein and zeaxanthin levels in adipose tissue significantly increased
after spinach and corn supplementation in healthy subjects, with a maximum at
8 weeks of intervention (Johnson et al. 2000). Finally, tomato-oleoresin supplementation significantly increased lycopene concentration in adipose tissue (Walfisch et al.
2003). Dietary carotenoid intakes were strongly correlated with abdomen adipose
tissue concentration (a lower correlation was found for buttock or thigh adipose
tissue) for α-, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, cis-lycopene, and total carotenoids
545
21.3 Carotenoids and Adipocyte/Adipose Tissue
Metabolism
21.3.1 Carotenoids Are Stored in Adipocytes and Adipose
Tissue
It is established since a long time that carotenoids are stored in adipose tissue
notably (Peirce 1954; Virtanen et al. 1996; Parker 1989; Chung et al. 2009; Landrier
et al. 2012). Lycopene and β-carotene are the predominant carotenoids in human
adipose tissue (Parker 1988, 1989). More precisely, Chung et al. identified lycopene
as the most present carotenoid in adipose tissue (more than 1/2), followed by βcarotene (approx. 1/3 of total carotenoids), lutein + zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin,
and α-carotene (Chung et al. 2009).
Total carotenoid concentration appears to be site-specific, with abdomen concentration being higher than in the buttocks or thigh (Chung et al. 2009). Adipose
tissue concentrations of carotenoids are similar between men and women (Chung
et al. 2009). Interestingly, most of the carotenoids are inversely correlated to fat
mass and to both general and central adiposity (Chung et al. 2009; Wallstrom et al.
2001), suggesting that during obesity carotenoids are sequestered in adipose tissue.
Conversely, weight loss is associated to an increase of lutein and zeaxanthin serum
concentration (Kirby et al. 2011). In the case of β-carotene, it is somehow noteworthy
that, even if its adipose tissue (?) concentration is lower in obese people, the total
pool of β-carotene is similar in obese and nonobese when taking into account the
total fat mass (Osth et al. 2014).
Factors governing adipose tissue carotenoids uptake, distribution, and turnover
are poorly understood, but we recently reported that carotenoid uptake by adipose
tissue was independent of the carotenoid physicochemical properties (Sy et al. 2012),
suggesting the involvement of putative transporters or facilitators. In agreement, we
demonstrated the involvement of CD36 in lycopene and lutein uptake by adipose
tissue and adipocytes (Moussa et al. 2011). In addition, we also showed that lycopene
was not only stored in lipid droplets in adipocytes, but is also present in plasma and
nuclear membranes (Gouranton et al. 2008).
Adipose tissue carotenoid content is usually considered as a good long-term indicator of dietary intake of carotenoids (Kardinaal et al. 1995). β-carotene concentration in adipose tissue increased 5 days after a large oral dose consumption (Johnson
et al. 1995). Lutein and zeaxanthin levels in adipose tissue significantly increased
after spinach and corn supplementation in healthy subjects, with a maximum at
8 weeks of intervention (Johnson et al. 2000). Finally, tomato-oleoresin supplementation significantly increased lycopene concentration in adipose tissue (Walfisch et al.
2003). Dietary carotenoid intakes were strongly correlated with abdomen adipose
tissue concentration (a lower correlation was found for buttock or thigh adipose
tissue) for α-, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, cis-lycopene, and total carotenoids