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Background
Carotenoids are a diverse family of botanical pigments
Minimal biosynthesis in animals; so must derive from
diet
Botanical function
Mediate photoinduced electron transfer to chlorophyll
Quench singlet/triplet-chlorophyll that can damage allied
tissues during very active photosynthesis
Two relevant carotenoid families
Carotenes:
hydrocarbons (orange)
Xanthophylls
: hydroxylated carotenes (yellow)
Only xanthophylls of interest here. Dozens exist!
•
Often exists as fatty acid esters in nascent tissue
o
(3R,3’R,6’R)‐β,ε‐Carotene‐3,3’‐diol
;
dietary
o
Commercial and supplemental roles
•
Accumulates throughout human retina
1. Lutein
•
Reportedly rescues AMD
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Present in other tissues, relevance under study
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Colors white egg yolks yellow
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Antioxidant
•
Colorant (E161b)
o
Structure
o
Proposed daily dose: 10 mg