Zeaxanthin
The main carotenoids in human blood are β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, α-carotene, β-ryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, and other six. In the daily diet can be absorb a lot of carotenoids however, the human retina only select two kinds of nutrients that is lutein and zeaxanthin. They are highly concentrated in the macular area, which is responsible for the fine visual. Carotenoids are here for the performance of the deep yellow dots, also known as ‘macular pigment’. The zeaxanthin contains richly in the red pepper and Chinese wolfberry.
However, in the human body after taken the carotenoid, must carry by the high quality cholesterol through the penetration pate barrier to attain the retina. Lutein and zeaxanthin reduced the blue light screening effects; limit the reactive oxygen cause by photochemical effect. The active oxygen is effect by the endogenous or exogenous light-sensitive. General carotenoids or specific lutein and zeaxanthin have the essential nature of the direct power to remove these damaging reactive oxygen species.
Zeaxanthin and zeaxanthin of contain 11 conjugated double bonds, it is better to remove the singlet oxygen. From the point of view, the strongest incident has generated the most active oxygen in the center of macular.
If lack of lutein and zeaxanthin, it would lead to AMD (age-related macular degeneration), blindness, cataracts, astigmatism, presbyopia, the pseudo-myopia, eyestrain, and so have different degrees of illness. As mentioned above, lutein and zeaxanthin are important nutrients in macular area. When the lutein and zeaxanthin is enough, the macular area will be able to see things clearly and convey to the brain.
In the retinal macular there is a wealth of the carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, may protect the nerve damage. However, this two components of the human body cannot produce their own, must absorb from the fruits and vegetables. Zeaxanthin is the isomer of lutein, therefore it have important function to the human body, retina and macular. It also can be the same as the blue spectrum ultraviolet filter to prevent free radical damage.
In addition, doctors also knew lutein and zeaxanthin as an endogenous "sunglasses", because they protect the sensitive macular cells from high-energy blue light damage. Therefore confirm that zeaxanthin have protective function for the nerve. We have often heard people say that there are plenty eyesight of the efficacy of, because of the Chinese wolfberry contains a large number of zeaxanthin, can be concentrated in the macula to protect our eyes. Zeaxanthin can also use for anti-aging for the eyes. In addition, zeaxanthin can also suppress the anticancer treatment medicine to human body's side effect, to stimulate the brain cells, enhancing human brain and memory.
Although in the entire kind of carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin is not the best capacity of the antioxidant but due to their hydrophilic nature, it can enter the eye's retina and macular, thereby maintaining the health of the eye. The study also showed that even short-term increase the intake of these two types of carotenoids, will increase the macular pigment. Therefore, enhance confront against harmful substances and related light rays damage.