Identification of lutein, a dietary antioxidant carotenoid in guinea pig tissues

Lutein, a dietary carotenoid, is a well known antioxidant. The major Source of this carotenoid in humans is diet. We report here the presence of lutein, a dietary carotenoid in several guinea pig tissues (in decreasing order: liver > spleen > lung >> testis > kidney > plasma > eye but not in white adipose tissue). The presence of lutein in lung and other tissues may be significant in term of its antioxidant capacity of these organs. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.