Question

Lutein can be used as a coloration pigment, due to its orange-red color at high concentrations, and is thought to be present in the eye to help absorb light in the retina. Report the color of light that lutein would absorb and comment on the energy of the photons of light that color.

Answer 1

Lutein absorbs blue light and therefore appears yellow at low concentrations and orange-red at high concentrations. Lutein is also anti angiogenic. It inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Lutein was traditionally used in chicken feed to improve the color of broiler chicken skin. Polled consumers viewed yellow chicken skin more favorably than white chicken skin. Such lutein fortification also results in a darker yellow egg yolk. Today the coloring of the egg yolk has become the primary reason for feed fortification. Lutein is not used as a colorant in other foods due to its limited stability, especially in the presence of other dyes