Carotenoids Analysis Service

As a class of phytonutrients, they can be found in the cells of a wide range of bacteria, algae and plants. Generally speaking, carotenoid-containing foods are red, yellow or orange, but not all the time. Carotenoids are widely found in fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, carrots, papaya, watermelon, mangos, spinach and oranges. Though plants can generate carotenoids by themselves, animals can’t synthesize carotenoids and have to get from their diets. To be fully absorbed by the body, carotenoids need to be eaten together with fat. Up till now, more than 600 types of carotenoids are identified. Among them, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin and lycopene are the most common ones in diet and the widely studied. They assist plants in absorbing light energy for photosynthesis. They also act as antioxidant to eliminate free radicals, which will damage cells through reacting with other molecules.