Differentiate between retinol and beta-carotene and explain what retinol activity equivalents are


Beta-carotene is an orange pigment with antioxidant activity. It is a vitamin A precursor made by plants and stored in human fat tissue. Retinol is one of the active forms of vitamin A made from beta-carotene in animal and human bodies. It is an antioxidant nutrient. Foods derived from animals provide the active form of vitamin A, which is readily absorbed and put to use by the body. Foods derived from plants provide beta-carotene, which must be converted to active vitamin A before it can be used as such. The vitamin A precursor, beta-carotene, is naturally present in many vegetable and fruit varieties. For vitamin A precursors, activity is measured in retinol activity equivalents (RAE). It takes about 12 micrograms of beta-carotene from food to supply the equivalent of 1 microgram of retinol to the body.

Nutritional Science

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According to recent research, there is an inverse correlation between income level and obesity prevalence. (as income level increases, the prevalence of obesity decreases)

a. true b. false

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Which of the following population groups typically has the highest rate of calcium absorption?

A. athletes in training B. premenopausal women (not pregnant or lactating) C. pregnant women D. postmenopausal women

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A group of fat-soluble plant pigments that are the basis for the orange, red, and deep-yellow

colors of many fruits and vegetables are called A) prooxidants. B) carotenoids. C) provitamins. D) chlorophylls.

Nutritional Science