Xanthophylls health benefits and research studies

Xanthophylls are oxygenated carotenoids in the human food supply. Lutein, zeaxanthin, and cryptoxanthin are major xanthophyll carotenoids in human plasma. The consumption of these xanthophylls is directly associated with reduction in the risk of cancers, cardiovascular disease, age-related macular degeneration, and cataract formation. Canthaxanthin and astaxanthin also have considerable importance in aquaculture for salmonid and crustacean pigmentation, and are of commercial interest for the pharmaceutical and food industries. Chemical synthesis is a major source for the heavy demand of xanthophylls in the consumer market; however, microbial producers also have potential as commercial sources. If you would like to purchase a vision enhancement product with xanthopylls, see Eyesight-Rx supplement.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are dietary xanthophyll carotenoids, which are delivered to the retina via plasma lipoproteins. High dietary intake of macular xanthophylls lutein and zeaxanthin are associated with a lower risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration.

Cancer
Plasma Carotenoids and Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in Patients with prior Head and Neck Cancer.
Biomark Insights. 2009 Mar 23;4:17-26. Hughes KJ, Mayne ST, Blumberg JB, Ribaya-Mercado JD, Johnson EJ, Cartmel B. Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
Diets high in fruits and vegetables are generally believed protective against several chronic diseases. One suggested mechanism is a reduction in oxidative stress. The carotenoids, nutrients found in colored fruits and vegetables, possess antioxidant properties in vitro, but their role in humans is less well documented. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore the relationships between the most abundant plasma carotenoids (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin and beta-cryptoxanthin), as well as grouped carotenoids (total xanthophylls, carotenes and carotenoids), and urinary excretion of the F(2)-isoprostanes (F(2)-IsoPs), stable and specific biomarkers of oxidative damage to lipids. Two F(2)-IsoP measures were utilized: total F(2)-IsoPs and 8-iso-PGF(2alpha). The study population (N = 52) was drawn from a study among patients curatively treated for early-stage head and neck cancer. Unadjusted linear regression analyses revealed significant inverse associations between plasma lutein, total xanthophylls and both F(2)-IsoP measures at baseline. After control for potential confounders, all individual and grouped xanthophylls remained inversely associated with the F(2)-IsoP measures, but none of these associations achieved significance. The carotenes were not inversely associated with total F(2)-IsoPs or 8-iso-PGF(2a) concentrations. The finding of consistent inverse associations between individual and grouped xanthophylls, but not individual and grouped carotenes, and F(2)-IsoPs is intriguing and warrants further investigation.

Xanthophyll supplement questions
Q. Is there a danger or side effect of taking too high a dosage of zanthophylls such as lutein?
   A. We are not aware of specific research on the dangers or side effects of xanthophyll ingestion, but one possible side effect could be blurred vision if too high a dose of the xanthophyll lutein is ingested since it may displace other substances in the retina and cause an imbalance. This is just a hypothesis. Other side effects of excess xanthophyll ingestion are possible and remain to be discovered.

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