Abstract: Carotenoids and fat-soluble vitamins (C&FSV) belong to the group of highly lipophilic food components that have important effects on the body’s health, which are ingested mainly through consumption of foods. The knowledge about the intestinal absorption mechanism of dietary C&FSV has been developed from partial C&FSV absorption through simple diffusion to specific transporter-mediated absorption of dietary C&FSV. This paper reviews the latest research progress in the process of digestion and absorption of C&FSV with special focus on, transporter-mediated apical transport, cytosolic transport and intracellular metabolism in enterocytes, and secretion from the basolateral membrane of enterocytes for the entire absorption process, and it provides a comprehensive summary of the regulation of C&FSV transporters. This review is expected to drive the understanding of the intestinal absorption mechanism of lipid-soluble bioactives so that they can better exert their beneficial health effects.

Key words: transporter; carotenoids; fat-soluble vitamins; intestinal absorption