Comparing E160D - Lycopene vs E161H - Zeaxanthin

Overview

E160D - Lycopene

Lycopene (E160d) is a red pigment found naturally in tomatoes and other red fruits. In foods, it is used as a colour additive to give shades ranging from pink to deep red, especially where a “tomato-like” hue is desired. It can come from tomatoes, fermentation, or be made synthetically, but it works the same in coloring foods.

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E161H - Zeaxanthin

Zeaxanthin (E161h) is a yellow‑orange carotenoid pigment found naturally in foods like corn, orange peppers, and egg yolks. It’s used as a colouring ingredient in some markets and is better known as a component of eye‑health supplements alongside lutein. Regulatory rules vary by country, so you’ll most often see zeaxanthin on dietary supplement labels rather than everyday foods.

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Synonyms
E160d
Lycopene
E161h
Zeaxanthin
Functions
colour
colour
Origins
Plant
Microbiological
Synthetic
Plant
Microbiological
Synthetic
Products

Found in 206 products

Found in 18 products

Search rank & volume
#8727K / mo🇺🇸U.S.
#1518K / mo🇺🇸U.S.
Awareness score

×18.73
over-aware

×51.05
over-aware

Search volume over time

Interest over time for 2 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Interest over time for 2 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

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Popular questions

  1. What is lycopene good for?

    As a food additive (E160d), it provides a natural red color to foods; in the diet, it's an antioxidant carotenoid that’s been studied for heart and prostate health, though evidence for disease prevention is mixed.

  2. How much lycopene per day for prostate health?

    There’s no established medical dose; clinical studies often use about 10–30 mg/day from tomato products or supplements, but benefits are not confirmed—discuss supplementation with a healthcare professional.

  3. How much lycopene per day?

    There’s no RDA, but safety authorities set an acceptable daily intake of 0–0.5 mg/kg body weight/day (about up to 35 mg/day for a 70 kg adult); typical diets provide only a few milligrams per day.

  4. What does lycopene do?

    In foods, E160d colors products red and helps standardize appearance; in the body it acts as an antioxidant carotenoid with no vitamin A activity.

  5. What foods have lycopene?

    Naturally rich sources include tomatoes and tomato products (paste, sauce, ketchup), watermelon, pink grapefruit, guava, papaya, red carrots, and gac; as an additive, it appears on labels as lycopene or E160d in items like beverages, confectionery, sauces, and dairy desserts.

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  1. How much lutein and zeaxanthin should i take daily?

    There’s no official RDA, but clinical eye‑health studies commonly use 10 mg lutein plus 2 mg zeaxanthin per day (the AREDS2 ratio). Intakes in foods are much lower, and supplement needs depend on individual circumstances.

  2. What is lutein and zeaxanthin?

    They are yellow-orange xanthophyll carotenoids from plants; zeaxanthin is also used as a food color (E161h). In the body they concentrate in the macula and lens of the eye.

  3. How do you pronounce zeaxanthin?

    Zee-uh-ZAN-thin.

  4. How much lutein and zeaxanthin per day?

    No official RDA exists; research commonly uses 10 mg lutein with 2 mg zeaxanthin daily (AREDS2). Choose doses based on product directions or medical advice.

  5. What is the best brand of lutein and zeaxanthin?

    There’s no single “best” brand; look for reputable products that disclose amounts (often 10 mg/2 mg), use known sources like marigold (Tagetes erecta), and have third‑party testing (e.g., USP or NSF).

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