ÉDITIONS UNIVERSITAIRES EUROPÉENNES Delivery of Vitamins A, B and C by Serum Proteins

Vitamins play an important role in human health and therefore, the bioavailability and delivery of these micronutrients in solution have been the subject of intensive investigations. In this book, we monitor the delivery of vitamin A (retinol and retinoic acid), vitamin B (folic acid) and vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) by serum proteins such as human serum albumin (HSA), bovine serum albumin (BSA) and beta-lactoglobulin (b-LG). The loading efficacy of these vitamins with serum proteins are studied in solution. Vitamins bind serum proteins via hydrophilic, hydrophobic and H-bonding contacts. The loading efficacies of these vitamins were from 40% to 60%. Serum proteins are capable of delivery of these micronutrients in vitro and in vivo.