What are the applications and market prospects of lutein in food processing?

Lutein belongs to carotenoids, widely found in vegetables, fruits, flowers and other organisms in the natural pigments, especially in marigolds in the highest content, which is orange-red or orange-yellow, the main components for lutein (lutein) and zeaxanthin (zeaxanthin). Physicochemical properties and source of lutein
Lutein (Lutein) is its molecular formula for C40H56O2, relative molecular mass of 568.87. Lutein is an orange-yellow pigment powder, paste or yellow-brown liquid, with a weak hay-like odor, insoluble in water, soluble in propanol, methanol, isopropanol and dichloroethane, good heat resistance.

Lutein is widely found in green vegetables. Among them, marigold lutein content is the highest. According to the provisions of GB 26405-2011 National Standard for Food Safety Food Additives Lutein, the food additive lutein comes from marigold. The function of lutein 1. coloring function lutein has good coloring effect, because of its bright yellow, insoluble in water, soluble in oil, ethanol, strong coloring power, with light, heat, acid, alkali, etc., can be widely used in pastry, candy, beverages, rice and noodle products, but also can be used for the coloring of health care products, as well as the coloring of the sugar coating of the tablets, capsule coloring.
2. Protection of eyesight in recent years, research has shown that lutein and zeaxanthin can prevent damage caused by light in the retina part of the eye, the mechanism has 2 points.
(1) Lutein can filter high-energy visible blue light. Some experiments have proved that a 40% reduction in blue light can greatly reduce the number of free radicals on the retina.
(2) As an antioxidant, lutein can reduce the oxidizing effect of light on the eyes and control the formation of reactive oxides and free radicals.
3. Antioxidant function Lutein, as a carotenoid, contains multiple unsaturated double bonds with strong free radical scavenging effect, which can play the role of antioxidant and delay aging. Application of lutein
1. lutein in the processing of new resources in the application of food lutein as a coloring agent applied to beverages and jellies, will be orange juice drinks, milk drinks, carbonated beverages to add lutein, after 6 months of storage, the retention of lutein are more than 90%.
2. The protective effect of lutein esters on the skin There is evidence that long-term exposure to UV rays can substantially deplete the skin’s content of carotenoids (including lutein). Exposure to UVA and UVB in the skin due to the presence of reactive oxygen species cause cell-mediated inflammatory response, resulting in erythema, swelling, affecting aesthetics. In severe cases, it even induces skin cancer heart. Some experiments have shown that lutein can play a protective role, the main mechanism is the absorption of blue light in the ultraviolet light, but also scavenging free radicals, so W can W reduce UV damage to the skin and protect the skin.
3. lutein ester on the role of poultry coloring agents natural lutein ester has more than one carbon-carbon double bond chromophore, showing bright colors, different content of lutein ester color difference is obvious, from light yellow to red color domain span, and lutein ester and free lutein compared to the ends of the no active group a path group, determines the lutein ester can be applied from as a stable coloring agent. Market Prospect
Lutein and zeaxanthin have been very active in the past 5 years. There are already a number of categories of products in the market that apply lutein. The major driving factor for the lutein market is the consumer concern about age-related diseases such as macular degeneration. However, more new studies are showing that lutein has applications in other health areas such as brain health, sports nutrition, skin health, and sleep management, and these new findings will attract more attention to the ingredient from different groups of consumers.