@misc{SchweigertReimann2011, author = {Schweigert, Florian J. and Reimann, J.}, title = {Micronutrients and their Relevance for the Eye - Function of Lutein, Zeaxanthin and Omega-3 Fatty Acids}, series = {Klinische Monatsbl{\"a}tter f{\"u}r Augenheilkunde}, volume = {228}, journal = {Klinische Monatsbl{\"a}tter f{\"u}r Augenheilkunde}, number = {6}, publisher = {Thieme}, address = {Stuttgart}, issn = {0023-2165}, doi = {10.1055/s-0029-1245527}, pages = {537 -- 543}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Micronutrients play an important role in function and health maintenance for the eye. Especially lutein, zeaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids perform remarkable functions: lutein together with zeaxanthin forms the macular pigment, these carotenoids filter out the damaging blue light component from the sunlight as well as the ultraviolet light which leads to improved contrast sensitivity and less problems with screen glare. Furthermore, the macular pigment has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The omega-3 fatty acids also possess anti-inflammatory effects and, when converted into neuroprotectin, they protect against oxidative induced apoptosis in the retina. They are also responsible for the fluidity and supply to the photoreceptor membrane. These properties are important for the prevention and treatment of degenerative eye diseases like age-related macular degeneration. However, older people are often not sufficiently supplied of micronutrients in their diet. Because the supply of nutrients can hardly be achieved by dietary change, the additional intake in the form of food supplements is useful in this age group. Scientific studies have shown the positive effects of supplementation with micronutrients such as lutein/zeaxanthin, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid (DHA and EPA). Currently available nutritional products are based in part on the ingredients of the ARED study (Age Related Eye Disease Study). According to more recent studies formulations containing lutein and omega-3 fatty acids in physiologically meaningful doses without additional beta-carotene should be preferred. 10 to 20 mg of lutein and zeaxanthin represent a safe daily dose Regarding to the context above, beta-carotene in high doses plays a minor role to the eye and is especially critical for the health of smokers. This paper summarises the functions of the presented micronutrients in the eye and can assist ophthalmologists in advising their patients.}, language = {de} } @article{MageneyBaldermannAlbach2016, author = {Mageney, Vera and Baldermann, Susanne and Albach, Dirk C.}, title = {Intraspecific Variation in Carotenoids of Brassica oleracea var. sabellica}, series = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry : a publication of the American Chemical Society}, volume = {64}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry : a publication of the American Chemical Society}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0021-8561}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.6b00268}, pages = {3251 -- 3257}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Carotenoids are best known as a source of natural antioxidants. Physiologically, carotenoids are part of the photoprotection in plants as they act as scavengers of reactive oxygen species (ROS). An important source of carotenoids in European food is Brassica oleracea. Focusing on the most abundant carotenoids, we estimated the contents of beta-carotene, (9Z)-neoxanthin, zeaxanthin, and lutein as well as those of chlorophylls a and b to assess their variability in Brassica oleracea var. sabellica. Our analyses included more than 30 cultivars categorized in five distinct sets grouped according to morphological characteristics or geographical origin. Our results demonstrated specific carotenoid patterns characteristic for American, Italian, and red-colored kale cultivars. Moreover, we demonstrated a tendency of high zeaxanthin proportions under traditional harvest conditions, which accord to low-temperature regimes. We also compared the carotenoid patterns of self-generated hybrid lines. Corresponding findings indicated that crossbreeding has a high potential for carotenoid content optimization in kale.}, language = {en} } @article{IslamKhalilMaenneretal.2017, author = {Islam, Khan M. S. and Khalil, Mahmoud Abd Elhamid and Maenner, Klaus and Raila, Jens and Rawel, Harshadrai Manilal and Zentek, J{\"u}rgen and Schweigert, Florian J.}, title = {Lutein Specific Relationships among Some Spectrophotometric and Colorimetric Parameters of Chicken Egg Yolk}, series = {The journal of poultry science}, volume = {54}, journal = {The journal of poultry science}, publisher = {Japan Poultry Science Association}, address = {Tsukuba}, issn = {1346-7395}, doi = {10.2141/jpsa.0160065}, pages = {271 -- 277}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Lutein is an essential dietary carotenoid with health benefits and is inter alia responsible for the colouration of egg yolk. The relationship between lutein accumulation and egg yolk colouration was therefore studied in more detail. After feeding a low-luteine diet for 21 days, 14 birds (Lohmann brown hens aged 20 weeks) were fed a diet containing marigold (80 mg lutein/kg feed) and 14 other birds were fed a diet containing oleoresin (45 mg lutein/kg feed) for 21 days; for both groups of birds, this feeding period was followed by withdrawal for 21 days. The Roche Yolk Colour Fan (RYCF) score (0 to 15, where higher values denote greater colour intensity; R-2=0.87; P<0.01) and redness (R-2=0.89; P<0.01) increased with increasing lutein content of egg yolk. Total carotenoid content had a poor relationship with lightness (R-2=0.13; P>0.05) and yellowness (R-2=0.12; P>0.05) of the yolk. It may be concluded that increased lutein is potentially responsible for an increased RYCF score and redness (a*), but decreased yellowness (b*) and lightness (L*), of egg yolk.}, language = {en} } @article{FredeEbertKippetal.2017, author = {Frede, Katja and Ebert, Franziska and Kipp, Anna Patricia and Schwerdtle, Tanja and Baldermann, Susanne}, title = {Lutein Activates the Transcription Factor Nrf2 in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells}, series = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry : a publication of the American Chemical Society}, volume = {65}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry : a publication of the American Chemical Society}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0021-8561}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.7b01929}, pages = {5944 -- 5952}, year = {2017}, abstract = {The degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium caused by oxidative damage is a stage of development in age related macular degeneration (AMD). The carotenoid lutein is a major macular pigment that may reduce the incidence and progression of AMD, but the underlying mechanism is currently not fully understood. Carotenoids are known to be direct antioxidants. However, carotenoids can also activate cellular pathways resulting in indirect antioxidant effects. Here, we investigate the influence of lutein on the activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) target genes in human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19 cells) using lutein-loaded Tween40 micelles. The micelles were identified as a suitable delivery system since they were nontoxic in APRE-19 cells up to 0.04\% Tween40 and led to a cellular lutein accumulation of 62 mu M +/- 14 mu M after 24 h. Lutein significantly enhanced Nrf2 translocation to the nucleus 1.5 +/- 0.4-fold compared to that of unloaded micelles after 4 h. Furthermore, lutein treatment for 24 h significantly increased the transcripts of NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) by 1.7 +/- 0.1-fold, glutamate-cysteine ligase regulatory subunit (GCLm) by 1.4 +/- 0.1-fold, and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) by 1.8 +/- 0.3-fold. Moreover, we observed a significant enhancement of NQO1 activity by 1.2 +/- 0.1-fold. Collectively, this study indicates that lutein not only serves as a direct antioxidant but also activates Nrf 2 in ARPE-19 cells.}, language = {en} }