Comparing E161B - Lutein vs E161 - Xanthophylls

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Overview

E161B - Lutein

Lutein (E161B) is a yellow to orange natural color from the carotenoid family, often extracted from marigold flowers. It gives foods warm golden shades and also occurs naturally in leafy greens and egg yolks.

E161 - Xanthophylls

Xanthophylls (E161) are natural yellow to orange-red pigments from the carotenoid family. In food, they are used mainly as color additives, with examples including lutein, zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin, and astaxanthin. They can come from plants and algae, or be made by synthesis.

Synonyms

E161b

Lutein

Xanthophyll

tagete extract

E161

Xanthophylls

Functions

colour

Origins

Products

Found in 241 products

Found in 0 products

Search rank & volume

#8229.6K / mo🇺🇸U.S.

#314530 / mo🇺🇸U.S.

Awareness score

×17.61

over-aware

Awareness data is not available.

Search volume over time

Interest over time for 4 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

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

Popular questions

How much lutein per day?
There’s no established daily requirement; supplements commonly provide around 10 mg/day, and EFSA has set an acceptable daily intake of 1 mg/kg body weight/day for lutein (from Tagetes erecta) used as a food color (E161b).
What is lutein good for?
As a food additive it provides yellow–orange color; in the body, lutein (with zeaxanthin) concentrates in the retina, helping support macular pigment and normal visual function.
How much lutein and zeaxanthin should i take daily?
There’s no official RDA; a commonly studied regimen is 10 mg lutein plus 2 mg zeaxanthin per day (e.g., in AREDS2 formulations), though needs can vary—ask your clinician for personalized advice.
What does lutein do?
In foods it acts as a yellow–orange colorant (E161b); biologically it’s an antioxidant carotenoid that helps filter blue light in the eye.
What foods have lutein?
Leafy greens (kale, spinach), broccoli, peas, corn, and egg yolks are rich sources; smaller amounts occur in pistachios, zucchini, and kiwifruit.