Food sources of lutein and its effect on the human health

Abstract

Carotenoids are plant pigments having beneficial biological activities for humans, such as pro-vitamin A, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, among others. However, the human organism cannot produce these compounds on its own, therefore they must be supplied through a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, particularly one consisting of lutein. Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids belonging to the xanthophyll group. Although they have no pro-vitamin A activity, they are important carotenoids for eye healthcare. Thus, this work is aimed at performing a literature review on the main foods containing lutein so as to investigate the effect of its consumption on human health. It is noted that vegetables having dark green leaves are foods containing the highest lutein content, especially capuchin leaf, an unconventional food plant. In addition, lutein intake has numerous health benefits, such as minimizing the risk of macular diseases, as well as slowing down the progression of several chronic diseases, thus evidencing the importance of consuming such foods.