Bioaccessibility and bioavailability of keto-carotenoids from mamey sapote (<i>Pouteria sapota</i> (Jacq.) H.E. Moore & Stearn) fruit as influenced by matrix microstructure and food processing

Carotenoids are fat-soluble natural pigments widely distributed in nature. They have gained particular interest due to the potential health benefits that can be obtained when included in the human diet. Among these health benefits, the most prominent is their metabolic conversion to vitamin A. Humans are incapable of synthesizing carotenoids and vitamin A, thus relying on the consumption of food rich in provitamin A carotenoids or preformed vitamin A in order to prevent a series of adverse health conditions. Despite numerous programs, e.g., of the World Health Organization (WHO), vitamin A deficiency continues to be one of the leading causes of preventable child blindness worldwide, being part of a wide range of widespread micronutrient deficiencies. As part of the efforts to diminish the malnutrition caused by deficiencies of key vitamins and minerals, several strategies, like supplementation programs, have been carried out over the past years. One recommendation is to improve diet diversity by including fruits and vegetables rich in micronutrients, such as provitamin A carotenoids, which are locally accessible to the populations in risk. This strategy might be particularly useful for human populations from tropical developing countries due to the high variety of fruits and vegetables available throughout the year. Hence, there is high interest to study new promissory sources with high carotenoid content that can fulfill vitamin A daily requirements. Therefore, this doctoral thesis aimed at gaining further insights into the nutritional potential of mamey sapote fruit (Pouteria sapota (Jacq.) H.E. Moore & Stearn) as a promissory source of carotenoids, particular those with provitamin A activity.