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This study examined the effect of the intake of orange juice provided freshly squeezed (FS) or processed using low-temperature pasteurisation (LP), high-pressure processing (HPP), or pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment on the serum carotenoid concentrations of 12 healthy individuals, aged 20–32 years, enrolled in a crossover study. Participants were instructed to consume 500 ml of orange juice/day for 14 days. Carotenoid concentrations in the orange juice as well as serum samples retrieved on days 7 and 14 were analysed via HPLC. A significant increase in serum xanthophyll concentrations, but not serum carotenes, was observed, with the highest increase in α- and β-cryptoxanthin. The processing technologies applied appeared to affect serum carotenoid concentrations, with concentrations being similar in the HPP and FS orange juice types. As high variability in serum carotenoid concentrations was observed, the effect of different technologies on serum carotenoid concentration warrants further studies with larger sample sizes., Begoña Olmedilla-Alonso participates in the Spanish Carotenoid Network (CaRed) funded by the Spanish MINECO (Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness) grant BIO2015-71703- REDT. Begoña Olmedilla-Alonso and M Pilar Cano participate in the European Carotenoid Network (EuroCaroten) funded by the European Commission COST Action CA15136. This work was supported by the Consejería de Educación, Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain (grants: CAM 07G/0040/2000 and 07G/0041/2000) and by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain (grant RCMN C03/08).

Intervention studies in humans provide the highest level of evidence in the assessment of the effect of nutrients or bioactive food components on human health /disease. There are different intervention study designs, and their selection depends on the objectives of the study. Here we present the main designs and the factors that should be considered when selecting and developing them., Spanish Carotenoid Network (CaRed) funded by the Spanish MINECO (Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness) grants BIO2015-71703-REDT and BIO2017-90877-REDT, the European Carotenoid Network (EuroCaroten) funded by the European Commission COST Action CA15136 and Instituto de Salud Carlos III-ERDF grant PI16/01991.

Strigolactones (SLs) are important ex-planta signalling molecules in the rhizosphere, promoting the association with beneficial microorganisms, but also affecting plant interactions with harmful organisms. They are also plant hormones in-planta, acting as modulators of plant responses under nutrient-deficient conditions, mainly phosphate (Pi) starvation. In the present work, we investigate the potential role of SLs as regulators of early Pi starvation signalling in plants. A short-term pulse of the synthetic SL analogue 2′-epi-GR24 promoted SL accumulation and the expression of Pi starvation markers in tomato and wheat under Pi deprivation. 2′-epi-GR24 application also increased SL production and the expression of Pi starvation markers under normal Pi conditions, being its effect dependent on the endogenous SL levels. Remarkably, 2′-epi-GR24 also impacted the root metabolic profile under these conditions, promoting the levels of metabolites associated to plant responses to Pi limitation, thus partially mimicking the pattern observed under Pi deprivation. The results suggest an endogenous role for SLs as Pi starvation signals. In agreement with this idea, SL-deficient plants were less sensitive to this stress. Based on the results, we propose that SLs may act as early modulators of plant responses to P starvation., Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Grant/Award Number: 201640I040; European Regional Development Fund, Grant/Award Numbers: AGL2017‐88‐083‐R, RTI2018‐094350‐B‐C31; Generalitat Valenciana, Grant/Award Number: CDEIGENT/2018/015; Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Grant/Award Numbers: AGL2017‐88‐083‐R, RTI2018‐094350‐B‐C31, FJCI‐2015‐23575; National Network of Carotenoids, Grant/Award Number: BIO2017‐90877‐REDT

Red peppers (Capsicum annuum) are rich in carotenoids and are widely grown and consumed all over the world. Today’s consumption patterns are characterized by periodical purchases of food and longer food storage periods, including raw fruits and vegetables, which could have a negative effect on healthy components. This study aims to investigate the individual carotenoid content in Lamuyo-variety red peppers in cool storage (7 °C) for three weeks. Carotenoid concentrations expressed in µg/100g of the edible portion were; lutein (1203), zeaxanthin (853), α-carotene (272), β-carotene (2167), β-cryptoxanthin (525), violaxanthin (770), capsanthin (9667), phytoene (348) and phytofluene (143). Carotenoid concentrations did not significantly vary after 21 days under household refrigeration conditions and thus the nutritional supply of provitamin A carotenoids and of carotenoids with eye health benefits such as lutein and zeaxanthin, as well as others with potential health benefits in humans such as capsanthin, violaxathin, phytoene and phytofluene., Begoña Olmedilla-Alonso belongs to the Spanish Carotenoid Network (CaRed) funded by the Spanish MINECO (Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness) grant BIO2015-71703-REDT and the European Carotenoid Network (EuroCaroten) funded by the European Commission COST Action CA15136.