Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryPeer-reviewed

A comprehensive review on carotenoids in foods and feeds: <i>status quo</i>, applications, patents, and research needs

Antonio J. Meléndez‐Martínez; Anamarija Mandić; Filippos Bantis; Volker Böhm; Grethe Iren A. Borge; Mladen Brnčić; Anette Bysted; M. Pilar Cano; Maria da Graça Dias; A. Elgersma; Martina Fikselová; Javier García‐Alonso; Daniele Giuffrida; V.S.S. Gonçalves; Dámaso Hornero‐Méndez; Kristina Kljak; Vera Lavelli; George Α. Manganaris; Paula Mapelli‐Brahm; M. Marounek; Begoña Olmedilla‐Alonso; María Jesús Periago; Adela Pintea; Jeremiah J. Sheehan; Vesna Tumbas Šaponjac; Magdaléna Valšíková-Frey; Lieven Van Meulebroek; Nora M. O’Brien

Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition · 2021

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Summary

This collaborative European review synthesises current knowledge on carotenoids across the agro-food chain, examining their roles as sources of vitamin A, natural pigments, antioxidants, and health-promoting compounds. The authors address analytical approaches, food sources, databases, processing impacts, extraction trends, dietary intakes, and applications in human nutrition and animal feeds, alongside a survey of patents. The review identifies research gaps and emerging priorities for advancing carotenoid science and application.

Regional applicability

As an international collaborative review coordinated through the European COST Action EUROCAROTEN, the findings are directly applicable to United Kingdom food systems, nutrition policy, and research practice. The emphasis on carotenoid-rich foods, processing effects, and daily intake recommendations aligns with UK dietary guidance and food composition databases, though applicability of feed-related findings depends on UK livestock production systems.

Key measures

Carotenoid content in foods and feeds; analysis methods; effects of processing and storage; daily intake recommendations; use as food and feed additives; patent landscape

Outcomes reported

The review comprehensively examined carotenoid distribution in foods and feeds, including analysis methods, food sources, processing effects, daily intakes, and applications as human and feed additives. It also surveyed patents and identified emerging research needs in carotenoid research and applications.

Theme
Nutrition & health
Subject
Food composition & nutrient databases
Study type
Narrative Review
Study design
Narrative review
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
International
System type
Food supply chain
DOI
10.1080/10408398.2020.1867959
Catalogue ID
NRmsxs4hld-002

Topic tags

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