Hen egg carotenoids (lutein and zeaxanthin) and nutritional impacts on human health: a review

Abstract

Hen egg is a unique and important carrier of lipid soluble bioactive carotenoids – lutein and zeaxanthin. Egg yolk carotenoid profile is largely dependent on hen’s feed composition. Naturally, lutein and zeaxanthin are polar carotenoids primarily deposited in human retina and provide several protective functions, i.e. protect the macula from damage by blue light, improve visual acuity, and scavenge harmful reactive oxygen species. They have also been linked with reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration and cataracts, cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer’s, and possibly different cancers. This review summarizes the latest data on content and composition of hen egg carotenoids, effect of processing, feeding systems, feed additives, bioavailability, and physiological effect of egg carotenoids on human health issues.

Keywords

• Egg yolk
• nutrients
• carotenoid analysis
• feeding systems
• bioavailability
• macular degeneration
• cardiovascular
• oxidative stress
• Alzheimer’s
• cancer
• human health