AS A PIGMENT
These Xanthophylls, like its sister compound Zeaxanthin, has primarily been used as a natural colorant due to its orange-red color. Lutein absorbs blue light and therefore appears yellow at low concentrations and orange-red at high concentrations.
Lutein was traditionally used in chicken feed to provide the yellow color of broiler chicken skin. Polled consumers viewed yellow chicken skin more favourable than white chicken skin. Such Lutein fortification also results in a darker yellow egg yolk. Today the coloring of the egg yolk has become the primary reason for feed fortification. Lutein is not used as a colorant in other foods due to its limited stability, especially in the presence of other dyes.
WHERE TO FIND LUTEIN
Lutein is found naturally in foods such as dark green leafy vegetables and egg yolks. Other Lutein sources include vitamins and dietary supplements, as well as certain processed foods. Lutein is one of over 600 known naturally occurring Carotenoids. Found in green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale, Lutein is employed by organisms as an antioxidant and for blue light absorption. Lutein is covalently bound to one or more fatty acids present in some fruits and flowers, notable Marigolds (Tagetes). Saponification of Lutein esters yields Lutein in approximately a 2:1 weight-to-weight conversion. Lutein is also found in egg yolks, animal fats and the corpus luteum. Foods considered good sources of the nutrients also include kale, turnip greens, collard greens, romaine lettuce, broccoli, zucchini, corn, garden peas and Brussels sprouts.
