The aim was to identify minor genetic variations (single nucleotide polymorphisms) that explain the interindividual variability in bioavailability of fat soluble micronutrients (fat soluble vitamins and carotenoids).

Healthy male volunteers were genotyped and submitted to 5 test-meals containing either no micronutrient of interest, 100 g tomato puree as a source of carotenoids, a lutein supplement, a vitamin E supplement or a vitamin D supplement. Blood samples were taken in the postprandial period (up to 8 hours after the test-meals intake) and the concentration of the studied micronutrients were measured in the chylomicrons. Multivariate analysis were then performed to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms that best explained the variance in the interindividual response (0 to 8 h area under the curve) in micronutrients.

Inclusion Criteria:

gender : male age : 18 to 60 years old BMI: [18 to 29.9] kg/m2 Fasting Cholesterol concentration : < 2,5 g/l Fasting triglyceride concentration < 2 g/l Fasting glycemia ≤ 1,1 g/l Fasting Hemoglobin < 13 g/dl HIV as well as hepatitis C and B negative

Exclusion Criteria:

smokers regular consumption of vitamin supplement > 140 g/week alcohol vegetarian diseases drugs assumed to affect the metabolism of lipids or fat soluble micronutrients (e.g. ezetimibe)

healthy male adults.