The eye is a major sensory organ that requires special care for a healthy and productive lifestyle. Numerous studies have identified lutein and zeaxanthin to be essential components for eye health. Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoid pigments that impart yellow or orange color to various common foods such as cantaloupe, pasta, corn, carrots, orange/yellow peppers, fish, salmon and eggs. Their role in human health, in particular the health of the eye, is well established from epidemiological, clinical and interventional studies. They constitute the main pigments found in the yellow spot of the human retina which protect the macula from damage by blue light, improve visual acuity and scavenge harmful reactive oxygen species. They have also been linked with reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts. Research over the past decade has focused on the development of carotenoid-rich foods to boost their intake especially in the elderly population. The aim of this article is to review recent scientific evidences supporting the benefits of lutein and zexanthin in preventing the onset of two major age-related eye diseases with diets rich in these carotenoids. The review also lists major dietary sources of lutein and zeaxanthin and refers to newly developed foods, daily intake, bioavailability and physiological effects in relation to eye health. Examples of the newly developed high-lutein functional foods are also underlined.

Isoflavones (genistein, daidzein, and glycitein) are bioactive compounds with mildly estrogenic properties and often referred to as phytoestrogen. These are present in significant quantities (up to 4-5 mg·g on dry basis) in legumes mainly soybeans, green beans, mung beans. In grains (raw materials) they are present mostly as glycosides, which are poorly absorbed on consumption. Thus, soybeans are processed into various food products for digestibility, taste and bioavailability of nutrients and bioactives. Main processing steps include steaming, cooking, roasting, microbial fermentation that destroy protease inhibitors and also cleaves the glycoside bond to yield absorbable aglycone in the processed soy products, such as miso, natto, soy milk, tofu; and increase shelf lives. Processed soy food products have been an integral part of regular diets in many Asia-Pacific countries for centuries, e.g. China, Japan and Korea. However, in the last two decades, there have been concerted efforts to introduce soy products in western diets for their health benefits with some success. Isoflavones were hailed as magical natural component that attribute to prevent some major prevailing health concerns. Consumption of soy products have been linked to reduction in incidence or severity of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular, breast and prostate cancers, menopausal symptoms, bone loss, etc. Overall, consuming moderate amounts of traditionally prepared and minimally processed soy foods may offer modest health benefits while minimizing potential for any adverse health effects.

Potato is an economically important staple crop prevailing all across the world with successful large-scale production, consumption, and affordability with easy availability in the open market. Potatoes provide basic nutrients such as-carbohydrates, dietary fiber (skin), several vitamins, and minerals (e.g., potassium, magnesium, iron). On occasion exposures to raw and cooked potatoes impart allergic reactions. Dietary intake of potatoes, especially colored potatoes, play an important role in the production of antioxidant defense system by providing essential nutrient antioxidants, such as vitamins, β-carotene, polyphenols, and minerals. This may help lower the incidence of wide range of chronic and acute disease processes (like hypertension, heart diseases, cancer, neurodegenerative, and other diseases). However, retention of nutrients in potatoes is affected by various cooking and processing methods. Cooking at elevated temperature also produces acrylamide-a suspected carcinogen. Independent and/or collaborative studies have been conducted and reported on the various pathways leading to the formation of acrylamide in heat processed foods. This article reviews the latest research on potato production, consumption, nature of phytochemicals and their health benefits, and allergic reactions to children. Also included is the discovery of acrylamide in processed starch-rich foods including potatoes, mechanism of formation, detection methodologies, and mitigation steps to reduce acrylamide content in food.

Ancestors of the modern chicken were domesticated from members of the Gallus genus probably 7 to 8 thousand years ago in southeastern Asia. Subsequently, they spread globally for meat and egg production. In the chicken egg, there is a balance of numerous, high-quality nutrients, many of which are highly bioavailable. The egg confers a multitude of health benefits to consumers emphasizing its classification as a functional food. Current global per capita egg consumption estimates approach 9 kg annually but vary greatly on a regional basis. This review deals with global production, consumption, and management aspects such as hygiene, feeding, and housing. Management aspects play key roles in the composition, quality, food safety, and visual (consumer) appeal of the egg. Also the manipulation of egg nutrients and value for human health is discussed.

Hen egg is a unique and important carrier of lipid soluble bioactive carotenoids -lutein and zeaxanthin. Egg yolk carotenoid profile is largely dependent on hen's feed composition. Naturally, lutein and zeaxanthin are polar carotenoids primarily deposited in human retina and provide several protective functions, i.e. protect the macula from damage by blue light, improve visual acuity, and scavenge harmful reactive oxygen species. They have also been linked with reduced risk of agerelated macular degeneration and cataracts, cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer's, and possibly different cancers. This review summarizes the latest data on content and composition of hen egg carotenoids, effect of processing, feeding systems, feed additives, bioavailability, and physiological effect of egg carotenoids on human health issues.Carotenoides de huevo de gallina (luteína y zeaxantina) e impactos nutricionales en la salud del ser humano: una revisión RESUMEN La yema de huevo es un importante y único portador de carotenoides bioactivos liposolubles: luteína y zeaxantina. El perfil de carotenoides de la yema de huevo depende notablemente de la composición alimentaria de la gallina. La luteína y la zeaxantina son carotenoides polares naturales depositados principalmente en la retina humana y que aportan diversas funciones protectoras, como por ejemplo la protección de la mácula del daño provocado por la luz azulada, la mejora de la agudeza visual y expulsan las especies dañinas reactivas al oxígeno. Estos también están relacionados con reducir el riesgo de degeneración macular producido por la edad y las cataratas, enfermedades cardiovasculares, Alzheimer, además de la posibilidad de diferentes tipos de cáncer. Este estudio resume los datos más recientes acerca del contenido y la composición de los carotenoides de la yema de huevo de gallina, el efecto del procesamiento, los sistemas de alimentación, los aditivos alimentarios, la biodisponibilidad y el efecto psicológico de los carotenoides del huevo en los problemas de salud de las personas. ARTICLE HISTORY