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.

Functions of lutein

1. Coloring function
Lutein has good coloring function, because it has bright yellow color, insoluble in water, soluble in oil, ethanol, strong coloring power, light, heat, acid, alkali and other characteristics, can be widely used in pastry, confectionery, beverages, rice and noodle products, can also be used for coloring of health care products as well as coloring of sugar coating of tablets and capsules.

2.Protecting eyesight

In recent years, studies have shown that lutein and zeaxanthin can prevent damage caused by light in a part of the retina in the eye, and its 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 a role in antioxidant and delay aging.

Application of lutein

1. Application of lutein in the processing of new resource foods
Lutein as a coloring agent applied to beverages and jellies, orange juice drinks, milk drinks, carbonated beverages will be added to lutein, after 6 months of storage, lutein retention are more than 90%.

2. Protective effect of lutein ester on skin

There is evidence that prolonged exposure to UV rays depletes the content of carotenoids (including lutein) in the skin in large quantities. 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. The role of lutein esters on poultry colorants
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 two ends of the no active group a one-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.