Is zeaxanthin good for macular degeneration?

What Is Zeaxanthin?

Zeaxanthin is a fat-soluble pigment component of lutein and a dihydroxy derivative of β-carotene. Zeaxanthin is a natural pigment with antioxidant function. It is gradually replacing synthetic pigments such as lemon yellow and sunset yellow, and has broad market prospects. Zeaxanthin and lutein are isomers. Most of the zeaxanthin in nature is the all-trans isomer (AllE-iso-mer).

Existence

Zeaxanthin is a typical oil-soluble chloroplast pigment. In nature, it is widely found in green leafy vegetables, flowers, fruits, wolfberry and yellow corn. The main pigment of yellow corn is zeaxanthin, and its content in corn kernels is about 0.1~9mg/kg. Green leafy vegetables are the main dietary source of lutein, but the content of zeaxanthin is relatively low.

In the human body, zeaxanthin is mainly distributed in tissues and organs such as the eyes, liver, pancreas, kidneys, spleen, and ovaries, and plays an important role in health. In the eyes, zeaxanthin is mainly concentrated in the center of the macula of the retina. Humans and animals cannot synthesize zeaxanthin on their own and must obtain it through food or supplements. Dietary sources of zeaxanthin mainly include yellow corn, orange bell peppers, orange juice, honeydew melon, mango, raspberries, blueberries, peaches, wolfberries, egg yolks, etc.

Studies have shown that maintaining the normal and intact structure of the macula and protecting the retina are mainly achieved through lutein and zeaxanthin present in the human retina. When zeaxanthin and lutein are supplemented together, they can better resist blue light:

Blue light is everywhere in daily life, especially the widespread use of electronic screens. Harmful blue light will penetrate the lens directly to the retina due to its high energy, causing damage to the cells of the fundus (especially photosensitive cells).

Zeaxanthin and lutein (Lutein) are two essential carotenoids that constitute the macula of the retina of the eye1, and are also the only two naturally derived carotenoids that selectively deposit in the macula of the retina after dietary supplementation.

Supplementing zeaxanthin with lutein can significantly increase the optical density of macular pigment, help the eyes better resist blue light exposure and oxidative damage, and then help improve common eye problems such as visual fatigue and relieving strong light stimulation to the eyes.

Adults supplementing 10mg lutein and 2mg zeaxanthin daily is beneficial to eye health.

What Are The Functions Of Zeaxanthin?

Prevents Eyestrain, Macular Degeneration, and Cataracts

Like other members of the carotenoid family, zeaxanthin is converted into vitamin A in the human body. Studies show that the antioxidant properties of carotenoids can prevent eyestrain, macular degeneration, and cataracts.

Can Help Our Body Fight Infections

Vitamin A is also essential for supporting immunity and protecting the integrity of the intestinal lining. Studies show that carotenoids can help our bodies fight infections, in addition to improving angiogenesis. Helping us optimally deliver oxygen and nutrients to various tissues, thereby promoting healing and preventing disease.

Prevents and Osteoporosis

Zeeaxanthin has been found to prevent osteoporosis, as well as other bone-related problems, keeping us healthy and strong.

Protects Skin from Blue Light Damage

Just as zeaxanthin and lutein protect our eyes by absorbing harmful blue light, they can do the same for our skin. One study showed that zeaxanthin and lutein supplements may help improve skin hydration, elasticity, and inflammation.

What Is The Application Of Zeaxanthin?

Food preservatives

Zeaxanthin has strong antioxidant properties. Compared with the commonly used synthetic antioxidant (BHT), zeaxanthin has stronger antioxidant capacity than BHT in the initial period of oxidation. Zeaxanthin can prevent the oxidation of lipids and vitamins in food, keep the nutrients and flavor of food from being destroyed by oxidation, and extend the shelf life of food. Therefore, zeaxanthin is an ideal natural food preservative. In production, zeaxanthin is often used in solid food.

Natural colorant

It is an industrial development trend to replace synthetic food coloring food with safe and non-toxic natural food coloring. Zeaxanthin itself is a normal component in food. One oxygen-containing group on the two six-membered carbon rings in the zeaxanthin molecule makes it more stable and has stronger coloring ability. At the same time, it has nutritional fortification or certain pharmacological effects, and has a positive effect on regulating human metabolism, which is in line with the development direction of natural food additives "natural", "nutritional" and "multifunctional".

Zeaxanthin has been approved as a food coloring agent by many countries such as Europe and the United States due to its strong coloring ability.

Health food additives

Zeaxanthin has the effect of preventing AMD, cataracts, cardiovascular disease, etc. As a health food additive, the FDA in the United States has approved zeaxanthin as a new nutritional additive for use in food, and its dosage generally does not exceed 5%.

Aquaculture Feed

Compared with other carotenoids, zeaxanthin can be evenly deposited in poultry meat and egg yolks, so it can enhance the pigmentation of poultry and fish. High doses of lutein added to feed make poultry meat and egg yolks yellow-green in color, while corn rich in zeaxanthin as feed can make poultry meat yellow-red in color, and can be well deposited in poultry meat to color it.

Zeaxanthin is used as a feed additive to effectively improve animal nutritional status, egg yolk, poultry meat and skin color. In meat poultry, zeaxanthin is deposited in the claws, beaks and subcutaneous fat to color it and improve the quality of poultry carcasses. In egg-laying poultry, zeaxanthin is deposited in the yolk to make it yellow, improving the quality of the egg and increasing its nutritional value.

In addition, due to its photoprotective ability, zeaxanthin can be used as a protective agent for photosensitive cells. Zeaxanthin also has the effects of protecting the skin, delaying aging, and reducing the formation of lipofuscin, making zeaxanthin a rising star in the cosmetics field.