What Is The Difference Between Lutein and Lutein Esters?
What Is Lutein Ester?
Lutein ester is a fatty acid ester similar to carotene, which has an antioxidant effect, can filter blue light, and is beneficial to eye development.
Sources of lutein ester: spinach, lettuce, green broccoli, cabbage, celery, okra, egg yolk, carrot, corn, pumpkin, papaya, melon, guava, orange, tangerine, peach, etc.素和叶素What Is The Difference Between Lutein and Lutein Esters?
Although there is only one word difference between lutein and lutein ester, they actually have essential differences.
It can be said that in nature, lutein generally exists in the form of lutein ester. When people want to extract lutein from nature, they actually extract lutein ester first, and then they can extract lutein from lutein ester.
Taking the extraction of lutein from marigold as an example, the process is roughly like this: marigold → lutein ester → lutein.
This is why lutein ester products on the market are relatively cheaper. Lutein ester Health Foods directly lack an extraction process, so the cost is naturally lower.
The lutein we take in through vegetables and other diets on a daily basis mainly exists in the form of lutein esters, which are converted into lutein in the human body and then absorbed and utilized, rather than lutein esters being directly utilized. It is estimated that in lutein health foods or dietary supplements, most of them use lutein rather than lutein esters. This is naturally because lutein has a higher bioavailability and is easier to be absorbed by the human body.
Lutein, not lutein esters, exists in human tissues.
Lutein can be directly absorbed by the human body, while lutein esters need to be converted. Lutein esters need to be processed by bile, pancreatic lipase, and hydrolyzed ester systems in the small intestine to generate free lutein, and then be absorbed by the small intestinal mucosa to be converted into effective lutein; while lutein can directly enter the stomach and intestines and be absorbed by the human body.
What Are The Functions Of Lutein Ester?
Coloring effect of lutein ester
Natural lutein ester is an important carotenoid fatty acid ester, the main configuration is all-trans, with a C=C long-chain color group, showing a bright golden color, and no active hydroxyl groups on both sides, which determines that lutein ester is a very stable food colorant. It is very stable to light, heat and air, and can be widely used in food, beverages, cosmetics and other application fields, with broad application prospects. At the same time, after emulsification, it can be made into a water-soluble colorant. Natural lutein ester will replace chemically synthesized food-grade colorants and improve people's health level.
Prevention of ADM use
An important biological function of lutein is to protect the retina and prevent damage from ultraviolet rays. At present, age-related macular degeneration (ADM) discovered worldwide is the main blinding eye disease for people over 65 years old.
After natural lutein ester and zeaxanthin ester are ingested into the human body, they are hydrolyzed into free lutein and zeaxanthin under the action of human lipase. They are deposited in the macula of the human fundus at high concentrations and can act as absorbers of near-ultraviolet blue light. They can protect the retina by capturing free radicals, preventing or reducing the damage caused by oxidation and free radicals, and can effectively reduce the incidence of ADM.
Enhanced immune effect
The latest research has found that at the overall level of animals, supplementing lutein into the body can promote the proliferation response of lymphocytes stimulated by antigens and affect the functional expression of cell surface molecules. The regulatory effect of lutein on cellular immunity is mainly manifested in its relationship with cell apoptosis and gene regulation.
Skin care and heart protection effect
Lutein esters, as a strong antioxidant, can inhibit the activity of reactive oxygen free radicals and prevent the damage of reactive oxygen free radicals to normal skin cells. Therefore, lutein esters can be made into a variety of skin care products and cosmetics to protect the health of the skin and prevent skin damage.
What Is The Application Of Lutein Ester?
Medical field: Lutein esters are believed to be beneficial to eye health and can prevent or alleviate eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts. Therefore, lutein esters are widely used in ophthalmic drugs and treatment plans to provide eye protection and promote visual health.
Food industry: Lutein esters are also used as food additives to increase the nutritional value and antioxidant capacity of food. It can be added to various foods such as juice, biscuits, pasta, etc.
Cosmetics: Lutein esters are also used in the cosmetic field to help the skin resist oxidation, thereby playing a role in beauty and beauty.
Feed: Lutein esters can also be used in feed to provide animals with necessary nutritional supplements, especially in aquaculture and poultry farming, which helps to improve the health and production performance of animals.
Industrial field: Dyes, pigments and fluorescent agents, etc.: Lutein esters can be used as dyes, pigments and fluorescent agents, etc., to provide special colors and optical effects to products.