Comparison of Carotenoid Bioavailability From Fresh Papaya, Tomato and Carrot

October 15, 2025 updated by: Jessica Cooperstone, Ohio State University

Evaluation of the Effect of the Consumption of Papaya, Tomato, and Carrot on the Bioavailability of Carotenoids

The goal of this study is to determine if papaya fruits are an exceptionally good food source for carotenoids in humans, particularly when compared more common carotenoid sources like carrots and tomatoes. This objective will be accomplished by quantitation of the immediate post-prandial plasma concentrations of parent carotenoids and vitamin A metabolites from subjects who consumed a meal containing fresh papaya, tomato, and carrot.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The main purpose of this study is comparing bioavailability of papaya carotenoids versus carrot and tomato carotenoids. Previously, vitamin A deposition in rat livers was studied, showing that carotenoid bioavailability from papaya is higher than from spinach, parsley and carrots. Detailed knowledge about human carotenoid absorption and conversion from papaya fruit compared to other food sources is still lacking.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

16

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Costa Rica
      • San José, Costa Rica
        • University of Costa Rica
  • United States
    • Ohio
      • Columbus, Ohio, United States, 43210
        • The Ohio State University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • healthy individuals

Exclusion Criteria:

  • lactating, pregnant, or planned to be pregnant
  • smokers/those who use tobacco products
  • metabolic or malabsorption disorders
  • had a history of cancer
  • history of liver insufficiency or other gastro-intestinal diseases
  • allergy to papaya, carrots or tomatoes
  • obesity

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Papaya-Carrot-Tomato
Test meals were consumed in the following order: 1. Papaya 2. Carrot 3. Tomato.
Other: Papaya
Post-prandial study feeding 400-506 g papaya (1.6 mg beta-carotene, 2.1 mg beta-cryptoxanthin, 13 mg lycopene), 150 g yogurt (10% fat), and 45 g of fat free bread.
Other: Carrot
Post-prandial study feeding 25-35 g carrot (= 1.6 mg beta-carotene), 150 g yogurt (10% fat), and 45 g of fat free bread.
Other: Tomato
Post-prandial study feeding 256-396 g tomato (= 13 mg lycopene), 150 g yogurt (10% fat), and 45 g of fat free bread.
Experimental: Papaya-Tomato-Carrot
Test meals were consumed in the following order: 1. Papaya 2. Tomato 3. Carrot
Other: Papaya
Post-prandial study feeding 400-506 g papaya (1.6 mg beta-carotene, 2.1 mg beta-cryptoxanthin, 13 mg lycopene), 150 g yogurt (10% fat), and 45 g of fat free bread.
Other: Carrot
Post-prandial study feeding 25-35 g carrot (= 1.6 mg beta-carotene), 150 g yogurt (10% fat), and 45 g of fat free bread.
Other: Tomato
Post-prandial study feeding 256-396 g tomato (= 13 mg lycopene), 150 g yogurt (10% fat), and 45 g of fat free bread.
Experimental: Tomato-Papaya-Carrot
Test meals were consumed in the following order: 1. Tomato 2. Papaya 3. Carrot
Other: Papaya
Post-prandial study feeding 400-506 g papaya (1.6 mg beta-carotene, 2.1 mg beta-cryptoxanthin, 13 mg lycopene), 150 g yogurt (10% fat), and 45 g of fat free bread.
Other: Carrot
Post-prandial study feeding 25-35 g carrot (= 1.6 mg beta-carotene), 150 g yogurt (10% fat), and 45 g of fat free bread.
Other: Tomato
Post-prandial study feeding 256-396 g tomato (= 13 mg lycopene), 150 g yogurt (10% fat), and 45 g of fat free bread.
Experimental: Tomato-Carrot-Papaya
Test meals were consumed in the following order: 1. Tomato 2. Carrot 3. Papaya
Other: Papaya
Post-prandial study feeding 400-506 g papaya (1.6 mg beta-carotene, 2.1 mg beta-cryptoxanthin, 13 mg lycopene), 150 g yogurt (10% fat), and 45 g of fat free bread.
Other: Carrot
Post-prandial study feeding 25-35 g carrot (= 1.6 mg beta-carotene), 150 g yogurt (10% fat), and 45 g of fat free bread.
Other: Tomato
Post-prandial study feeding 256-396 g tomato (= 13 mg lycopene), 150 g yogurt (10% fat), and 45 g of fat free bread.
Experimental: Carrot-Papaya-Tomato
Test meals were consumed in the following order: 1. Carrot 2. Papaya 3. Tomato
Other: Papaya
Post-prandial study feeding 400-506 g papaya (1.6 mg beta-carotene, 2.1 mg beta-cryptoxanthin, 13 mg lycopene), 150 g yogurt (10% fat), and 45 g of fat free bread.
Other: Carrot
Post-prandial study feeding 25-35 g carrot (= 1.6 mg beta-carotene), 150 g yogurt (10% fat), and 45 g of fat free bread.
Other: Tomato
Post-prandial study feeding 256-396 g tomato (= 13 mg lycopene), 150 g yogurt (10% fat), and 45 g of fat free bread.
Experimental: Carrot-Tomato-Papaya
Test meals were consumed in the following order: 1. Carrot 2. Tomato 3. Papaya
Other: Papaya
Post-prandial study feeding 400-506 g papaya (1.6 mg beta-carotene, 2.1 mg beta-cryptoxanthin, 13 mg lycopene), 150 g yogurt (10% fat), and 45 g of fat free bread.
Other: Carrot
Post-prandial study feeding 25-35 g carrot (= 1.6 mg beta-carotene), 150 g yogurt (10% fat), and 45 g of fat free bread.
Other: Tomato
Post-prandial study feeding 256-396 g tomato (= 13 mg lycopene), 150 g yogurt (10% fat), and 45 g of fat free bread.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pharmacokinetics of Carotenoid Absorption From Papaya, Carrot and Tomato
Time Frame: 8 post-prandial blood samples over 9.5 hours
The primary goal of this research is to investigate whether papaya can deliver increased quantities of carotenoids when compared to carrot and tomato. An area under the curve for concentration of carotenoids (from triglyceride rich lipoprotein (TRL) fraction of plasma) over time will be determined to quantify absorption, after subjects consume a meal containing papaya, carrot or tomato.
8 post-prandial blood samples over 9.5 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Ohio State University

Collaborators

University of Hohenheim
Universidad de Costa Rica

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Steven J Schwartz, Ph.D., Ohio State University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

June 1, 2011

Primary Completion (Actual)

November 1, 2011

Study Completion (Actual)

November 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 3, 2012

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 11, 2012

First Posted (Estimated)

December 13, 2012

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

October 20, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 15, 2025

Last Verified

October 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2011H0336

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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