E.O.EI. Basic Definitions
Lutein powder is a lipid-soluble functional raw material made from marigold as the core ingredient through extraction, saponification, purification, and drying. It is divided into two types: free lutein powder and lutein ester powder. The mainstream on the market is lutein ester microcapsules powder (water-soluble, with better absorption).
Core molecular formula
Lutein: C₄₀H₅₆O₂; Lutein ester: Lutein palmitate / stearate complex
II. Raw Material Sources
Natural sources: Marigold flower petals (the only large-scale raw material in industry); small amounts exist in spinach, corn, kiwi fruit, and egg yolks
Production process: Marigold extract → Saponification to separate lutein esters / free lutein → Microcapsule encapsulation → Spray drying to form powder
III. Core Effects (Action Targets: Retina macular area)
Eye protection core
The only component of macular pigment, filtering blue light and ultraviolet rays, reducing photo-oxidation damage
Relieving dry eyes, sore eyes, eye fatigue, improving blurred vision when looking at screens for a long time
Delaying macular degeneration, reducing the risk of vision decline in the elderly Antioxidation
Strong carotenoid antioxidants, capable of eliminating free radicals and delaying aging of eye and skin cells
Auxiliary functions
Protecting the microvessels at the back of the eye and alleviating insufficient blood supply to the retina; assisting in improving night vision and dark adaptation ability
Four. Differences between the two mainstream powders Table
Type Leutényl ester microcapsule powder (most common on the market) Free leutényl powder
Solubility Water-soluble, can be mixed with water, beverages, or milk powder Lipid-soluble, must be combined with oil for absorption
Absorption rate High, no need for secondary decomposition by the body Low, requires enzymatic conversion in the body
Application scenarios Solid drinks, tablet candies, children's supplementary food, meal replacement Soft capsules, lipid-based health supplements
Stability Microcapsules encapsulation, not prone to oxidation and color change Prone to degradation upon exposure to light and oxygen
V. Specifications and Content Standards
Effective content: 1%, 2%, 5%, 10%, 20% (industry standard), indicated as the effective content of lutein/leutényl ester
Appearance: Yellow to orange fine powder, with a slight marigold characteristic odor
Physical and chemical properties: Prone to strong light, high temperature, and metal ions, requires storage in a light-proof and sealed container
VI. Target Users
Necessity users: Students, office workers, long-term electronic screen users
Middle-aged and elderly: Prevention of macular degeneration, deepening of presbyopia
Special groups: Myopic individuals, dry eye individuals, night driving individuals
Supplement restrictions: Infants and toddlers need to follow controlled dosages, pregnant women and individuals with eye diseases should follow medical advice
VII. Application fields of addition
Food processing: Solid drinks, meal replacement powder, milk powder, yogurt, baked pastries
Health supplements: Eye protection tablets, multivitamins, dietary nutrition powder
Feed addition: Egg chicken feed (deepening egg yolk color), pet eye protection food
Cosmetics: Anti-aging skin care powder (antioxidant and brightening)
VIII. Daily recommended supplement dosage
Daily health care: 6–10 mg/day
Severe eye use / elderly eye protection: 10–20 mg/day
Safety upper limit: No more than 40 mg per day, excessive intake may cause temporary skin yellowing (harmless, recovery after discontinuation)
IX. Storage and precautions
Storage: Sealed, cool and dark, avoiding moisture, temperature ≤ 25℃, use up as soon as opened
Enhancing effect through combination: Combined with zeaxanthin, vitamin A/C/E, zinc, Omega-3, eye protection effect doubles
Precautions: No clear toxic side effects; individuals with gallstones, fat absorption disorders are recommended to take with oil for enhanced absorption
Distinguish quality: High-quality powder has uniform color, no lumps; inferior products contain corn starch and pigments, with extremely low effective content
X. Execution standards
Food grade follows national standards: GB 28301 (food additive lutein)
Health supplement raw materials comply with the relevant regulations of the "Health Food Ingredient Catalogue" for leutényl ester.
