Carotenoids for eye health: Absorption, ocular delivery and bioavailability enhancement strategies
Trends in Food Science and Technology, cilt.178, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Derleme
- Cilt numarası: 178
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.tifs.2026.106080
- Dergi Adı: Trends in Food Science and Technology
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Chemical Abstracts Core, Compendex, DIALNET, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Engineering Source (EBSCO)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Bioavailability, Carotenoids, Delivery systems, Ocular health, Precision nutrition
- Atatürk Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Background: Dietary carotenoids are important nutritional factors for visual performance and ocular homeostasis. Macular xanthophylls contribute to ocular protection by filtering short-wavelength light and modulating oxidative and inflammatory stress, while provitamin A carotenoids support retinoid-dependent visual processes by providing precursors for visual chromophore formation and retinoid signaling. However, their ocular effects are determined not only by aqueous solubility, physicochemical stability and oral bioavailability, but also by biologically regulated processes, including intestinal uptake, enzymatic cleavage, systemic transport, intracellular trafficking and ocular retention. Scope and approach: This review summarizes the structural characteristics, intestinal absorption, systemic transport and ocular enrichment mechanisms of major dietary carotenoids. It further discusses their protective roles in cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Strategies for improving bioavailability are also evaluated, including dietary synergy, gastrointestinal-stable carriers, lymphatic transport-oriented systems, gut microbiota-targeted approaches and precision ocular delivery platforms. Key findings and conclusions: Different carotenoids may contribute to ocular protection through distinct and partially overlapping mechanisms, including optical filtration, antioxidant defense, inflammatory modulation, vascular regulation and apoptosis-related pathways. Current evidence indicates that carotenoid bioavailability and ocular accumulation are governed by both physicochemical properties and biological regulation, including intestinal transporter activity, BCO1/BCO2-mediated metabolism, retinoid feedback signaling, lipoprotein-mediated distribution and ocular binding or retention mechanisms. Future carotenoid-based interventions should integrate carrier design with transporter specificity, metabolic conversion, tissue homeostasis and inter-individual variability to establish more precise dietary strategies for eye health.