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Xanthophyll esters in human skin
1Institut für Physiologische Chemie I, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, D-40001, Germany.
Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics
|July 24, 1998
Summary
Carotenol fatty acid esters, sources of carotenoids, are found in human skin at very low levels. These esters may form from absorbed xanthophylls or circulate in the blood, accumulating in tissues.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Dermatology
- Human Nutrition
Background:
- Carotenol fatty acid esters from fruits and vegetables provide carotenoids, yielding parent xanthophylls upon intestinal absorption.
- The presence and significance of these esters in human skin have not been extensively studied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and types of carotenol fatty acid esters in human skin.
- To identify the major parent carotenoids derived from these esters in skin tissue.
Main Methods:
- Extraction of carotenol fatty acid esters from human skin samples.
- Separation and identification using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
- Saponification of tissue samples to identify parent carotenoids via comparison with synthetic standards.
Main Results:
- Eighteen different carotenol fatty acid esters were identified in human skin extracts.
- Major parent carotenoids identified include lutein, zeaxanthin, 2',3'-anhydrolutein, alpha-cryptoxanthin, and beta-cryptoxanthin.
- Carotenol ester levels are very low (pmol/g), significantly lower than beta-carotene, with ester types ranging from linoleate to stearate.
Conclusions:
- Carotenol esters are present in human skin, albeit in minute quantities.
- These esters may originate from the reesterification of absorbed xanthophylls or from circulating esters accumulating in the skin.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the precise biological role and metabolic fate of carotenol esters in human skin.