Lutein is one of the more than 600 kinds of natural carotenoids that have been discovered so far. It belongs to light and pigment. It is lipophilic and usually insoluble in water. It exists in orange-yellow fruits, vegetables or flowers in the form of fatty acid esterification. It exists in green vegetables and some algae in free form; free lutein can be prepared by saponification of esterified lutein in plants. There is currently no clear scientific conclusion that the free form is easier to absorb and utilize than the esterified form. Although lutein can also be found in egg yolks and animal fats, animals cannot manufacture it and must ingest it in food. Therefore, the yellow color of the macular area of the eye and the egg yolk comes from the lutein in the food.
The molecular formula of Lutein is C40H56O2, and the relative molecular mass is 568.87. Lutein is orange flavin powder, paste or yellow-brown liquid, with weak smell like hay, insoluble in water, soluble in propanol, methanol, isopropanol and dichloroethane, with good heat resistance. In nature, marigold has the highest lutein content, which is mainly lutein and zeaxanthin.
According to "GB 26405-2011 National Food Safety Standard, Food Additives, Lutein", the food additive lutein must be derived from marigold.
What are the functions of lutein?
1. Coloring function
Lutein has a good coloring effect, because of its bright yellow color, insoluble in water, soluble in oil and ethanol, strong tinting strength, and has the characteristics of light resistance, heat resistance, acid and alkali resistance. It is widely used in cakes, candies, beverages, rice and flour products, and can also be used for the coloring of health care products and the coloring of tablet icings and capsules.
2. Protect eyesight
In recent years, studies have shown that lutein and zeaxanthin can prevent blue light from causing damage to the retina in the eye. There are two mechanisms.
A. Lutein can filter high-energy visible blue light. Experiments have shown that reducing blue light by 40% can greatly reduce the number of free radicals on the retina.
B. Lutein, as an antioxidant, can reduce the oxidative effect of light on the eyes and control the formation of reactive oxides and free radicals.
3. Antioxidant function
As a carotenoid, lutein contains multiple unsaturated double bonds and has a strong free radical scavenging effect, which can play an anti-oxidative and anti-aging effect.
KS Nutripharma is a professional and experienced manufacturer of botanical extract for 15 years, holding on ISO, HACCP, KOSHER. There are USA warehouses to support the VIP partners and to develop business scope in the market. Standardized lutein 5%, 10%, 20% & 80% for the market, formulation with powder, oil, beadlets, it is widely used on the food, beverage and health care products.
Lutein is a natural pigment, non-toxic and safe, with excellent physiological effects, in line with the development direction of "natural", "nutritious" and "multi-functional" food additives. It can be effectively added to food together with other beneficial and complementary nutrients. food nutrition and health care effect. With the improvement of extraction technology and food industrialization level, the prospect of lutein in health food and other fields will become more and more broad.
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