AOAC SPDS Mid Year 2016

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

1. Lutein

o (3R,3’R,6’R)‐β,ε‐Carotene‐3,3’‐diol ; dietary o Commercial and supplemental roles • Accumulates throughout human retina • Reportedly rescues AMD • Present in other tissues, relevance under study • Colors white egg yolks yellow • Antioxidant • Colorant (E161b) o Structure

o Proposed daily dose: 10 mg