Dietary Lutein Research Articles

Absorption, Transport, and Deposition in Chickens of Lutein Diester, a Carotenoid Extracted from Marigold (Tagetes erecta) Petals ,

Young broiler chickens were fed from hatching until 3 weeks of age with a white corn-soy diet amended with varying amounts of lutein diester to supply 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 μg free lutein/g diet. The lutein diester was added as a stabilized, microencapsulated extract of marigold (Tagetes erecta) petals. The concentrations of lutein diester, lutein monoester, and lutein in the contents of the jejunum and large intestine and in serum, liver, and toe web from these birds were measured by high pressure liquid chromatography. The contents of the jejunum and large intestine contained a mixture of lutein diester, lutein monoester, and lutein. The serum contained lutein (∼90%), lutein monoester (∼10%), and traces of lutein diester. The liver contained the three carotenoid classes in ratios reflecting the serum ratios. The ratios in toe web, an integumentary depot site, were reversed with lutein diester>> lutein monoester > lutein. The concentrations of each class in each tissue bore a linear relationship to the concentration of lutein diester in the diet. A simple explanation for these data is that the dietary lutein diester was hydrolyzed mainly to lutein, which was absorbed through the intestinal wall into the blood stream where it was transported to the liver, a storage site, and to the integumentary sites where it is esterified to lutein diester which is the main depot form.

Evaluation of Mixed Natural Carotenoid Products as Xanthophyll Sources for Broiler Pigmentation

Abstract The broiler pigmenting properties of products containing predominantly red xanthophylls from natural sources (MNC) were compared to those of marigold concentrate (MC) in three experiments. Day-old broiler cockerels were fed starter diets containing no added xanthophyll. Chicks were then assigned to one of the following diets: 1) negative control diet (no supplemental xanthophyll); 2) positive control diet in which MC increased total xanthophyll to 44 mg/kg (Exp. 1 and 2) or 66 mg/kg (Exp. 3); or 3) experimental diets in which MNC products constituted 25 to 40% of the total dietary xanthophyll. Broiler pigmentation was assessed by shank score, carcass color score, and color difference meter evaluation of breast skin. Broilers fed supplemental xanthophyll had higher (P

Utilization and Yolk Coloring Capability of Dietary Xanthophylls from Yellow Corn, Corn Gluten Meal, Alfalfa, and Coastal Bermudagrass

A single corn gluten meal, three alfalfa products, and two Coastal bermudagrass products were evaluated for their effects on xanthophyll utilization and coloring capability in egg yolks. Test diets were formulated to contain 11 mg total xanthophyll/kg from yellow corn and an additional 13 mg/kg from the test products. Laying hens were fed control and test diets for a 21-day repletion period prior to egg collection for yolk xanthophyll and color analyses. Yolk xanthophyll content was determined by the same method used for feed xanthophyll analysis, and yolk color was determined using the Roche color fan and reflectance colorimetry. All of the products resulted in a significantly improved yolk color, compared with the control, but xanthophyll utilization decreased at the higher relative feed xanthophyll levels of the test diets. The corn gluten meal and alfalfa products resulted in similar xanthophyll utilizations and yolk colors significantly greater than those of the Coastal bermudagrass products. There were no differences within the respective groups of alfalfa or Coastal bermudagrass products for either xanthophyll utilization or yolk color.

Influence of Canthaxanthin Supplementation on Broiler Pigmentation in Open and Windowless Houses

Shank skin pigmentation of broilers grown in open and windowless houses and fed diets containing 48.4 mg/kg total xanthophyll supplied by yellow corn, Xanthoglo®, and either 0, 1.1, 2.2, or 4.4 mg/kg canthaxanthin (Roxanthin®) was evaluated. Pigmentation was evaluated using a MacBeth MC-1010® reflectance colorimeter.Xanthophyll consumption and apparent deposition, as correlated with excitation purity, did not differ between broilers from open and windowless houses. Broilers fed no canthaxanthin or 1.1 mg/kg exhibited significantly lower shank skin dominant wavelength (DWL) values when grown in windowless houses. However, the addition of either 2.2 or 4.4 mg/kg canthaxanthin to the broiler diet resulted in no significant differences in DWL of shank skin from broilers grown in the two housing types. The addition of red pigments will resolve the adverse effect on pigmentation of windowless housing without involving higher total dietary xanthophyll levels.

A survey on pigment content in commercial formula feeds for poultry in Japan.

It is well knwon that dietary xanthophyll pigment content has a direct influence on yolk colour of eggs. Some of the Japanese consumers has been complaining that most of yolks of commercial table eggs sold in the present Japanese market are too light in colour. However, little information is available indicating how dark the colour of the yolks is in commercial table eggs, or showing what is the colour of the yolks which satisfy the consumers complaining about it.Results of a survey in 1968 indicated that the colour of the yolks in eggs sold in retail stores in Gifu area in Japan was, on average, 8.99 by Roche Yolk Colour Fan (RCF)1). In winter, the colour was somewhat darker, being 9.94, than that in summer, being 8.54. Another survay in 1980 of one of the authors2) showed that members of Japanese Society of Food and Nutrition in Tokyo area was satisfied with yolk colour of 9.3 by RCF. The eggs tested in the latter survey were laid by hens fed a formula feed containing 18.0ppm of total xanthophyll in National Institute of Animal Industry.In this paper, results from a survey of the pigment content in commercial formula feed for poultry in Japan are presented.

Evaluation of Waste Activated Sludge (Citrus) as a Source of Xanthophyll Pigment for Laying Hens and Broilers

In each of two trials, Cobb color-sexed broilers and a commercial strain of White Leghorn hens were fed diets containing either waste activated sludge (citrus) or yellow corn as the pigment source. Diets were formulated to contain xanthophyll levels of .93, 1.87, 2.81, and 3.74 mg xanthophyll/kg diet from either yellow corn or waste activated sludge (citrus). These xanthophyll levels were supplied by 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0% citrus sludge, respectively. Broiler shanks and egg yolks were evaluated colorimetrically for pigmentation.The xanthophyll in citrus sludge was not deposited in either egg yolks or broiler shanks to the same extent as was the xanthophyll present in yellow corn at any of the dietary xanthophyll levels tested. In the broiler studies, it appeared that xanthophyll from citrus sludge was deposited in the shank skin only in extremely small amounts, while in the laying hen studies, there did appear to be sufficient deposition of citrus sludge xanthophyll to provide adequate pigmentation for table eggs. This was partly due to the “more red” xanthophylls from citrus sludge as compared to those obtained from yellow corn.

The Effects of Lighted Incubation on Eggs with Pigmented and Nonpigmented Yolk

A study was undertaken to determine if light causes embryonic acceleration by working through the xanthophyll pigments in the egg yolk. Using the same type of incubating and lighting system described by other workers, eggs from White Leghorn hens fed diets with and without dietary xanthophyll were exposed to either dark or lighted incubation and allowed to hatch. Results of the study indicated that light does not accelerate embryonic growth through its effect on the xanthophyll pigments in the yolk, but it does support light as a stimulus for embryonic acceleration.

Xanthophyll Bioavailability in Dehydrated Turf Grass

In a 16-day experiment involving 270 32-week-old laying hens, dehydrated turf grass (DTG) and corn gluten meal (CGM) were compared as xanthophyll sources for egg yolk pigmentation. Experimental diets were formulated to contain, 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg total xanthophyll/kg diet, provided as either DTG or CGM. Neither egg production nor feed consumption was affected by diet. Egg yolk color dominant wavelength increased slightly with increasing dietary xanthophyll and did not differ with source. Egg yolk color excitation purity increased quadratically (P<.001) with dietary xanthophyll. The response was similar for both DTG and CGM. It was concluded that the xanthophyll in DTG is 100% bioavailable relative to CGM.

Isolation of 3-hydroxy-β,ε-caroten-3′-one from two moth species,Actias selene andCerura vinula

3-Hydroxy-β,e-caroten-3′-one (3′-dehydrolutein) was isolated from the mothsActias selene andCerura vinula. The structure is based on chemical, chromatographical, electron, and mass spectroscopic data. The carotenoid is identical to a semi-synthetic sample obtained from lutein by Oppenauer oxidation. It seems to be widespread among Saturniid and other moths, and is probably derived from dietary lutein.

Comparisons of BHT and Ethoxyquin as Antioxidants in the Nutrition of Broilers

BHT and ethoxyquin (EQ) at a level of 125 mg./kg. protected with equal effectiveness lipid components in practical-type and semi-purified diets held during period of 27 weeks at temperatures which ranged from 18°C. to 26°C. These antioxidants acted similarly in improving body weights, feed/gain ratio and liver vitamin A, but only when tested under conditions which led to deterioration of unprotected diets. EQ as well as BHT increased the accumulation of xanthophylls in livers of chicks, this effect being greater than expected from their stabilization of dietary xanthophylls. EQ significantly improved the stability of liver lipids (TBA values) as compared with the unsupplemented control, but not as compared with BHT. TBA values were also significantly affected by α-tocopheryl acetate and the quality of the dietary oil. EQ, but not BHT, at levels of 80 and 120 mg./kg., almost completely prevented encephalomalacia in chicks fed a semi-purified diet low in vitamin E, and containing oxidized safflower oil. Results of this study indicate that under practical conditions neither antioxidant showed a clear superiority over the other.

The Relative Effect of Ethoxyquin Versus B.H.T on Broiler Performance and Pigmentation

UNTIL Palmer (1915) first demonstrated that dietary xanthophyll was the contributing factor which produced yellow pigmentation in the adipose tissue of: poultry, color was of little concern to the poultry industry. Since then, consumer preferences with respect to shank and carcass color have been studied and found to vary widely from one geographical location to another.For example, Benjamin and Pierce (1937) reported that the discriminating consumer desired pale yellow body fat and shanks as an indication that the poultry had been milk fed. In contrast, Hammond and Harshaw (1941) found a strong consumer preference toward deeply pigmented broilers, particularly in the New York Metropolitan Area.Although Ratcliff et al. (1959) reported a recent de-emphasis on broiler pigmentation in certain areas of the country, it appears that consumer preferences in thee major Eastern markets for highly pigmented broilers have changed very little over the past two decades. The continuing demand …