Lutein and zeaxanthin content in corn imported from three countries of the American continent and in corn cultivated in Colombian territory

ABSTRACT Lutein and zeaxanthin are the major xanthophyll pigments found in corn kernels. These pigments provide the orange-red color of the broiler chicken skin and of the egg yolk. Therefore, knowing the corn xanthophyll content is important for the poultry feed producer. The objective of this study was to determine the lutein and the zeaxanthin content in corn cultivated in Colombia and in corn imported to Colombia from the United States, Argentina, and Brazil. Large differences in total lutein plus zeaxanthin content were found among the corn samples analyzed, with the highest mean level found in Colombian corn (2,758µg/100g), followed by Argentina (1,861µg/100g), United States (1,041µg/100g) and Brazil (947µg/100g). Large differences in lutein plus zeaxanthin content were also found among different corn hybrids cultivated in Colombia. Differences among geographical regions might be due to differences in UV-B radiation or in the light hours received by the crop during its growth. The differences among different corn hybrids might probably be due to genetic differences. Corn growers might be interested in cultivating hybrids higher in lutein and zeaxanthin as these pigments are very important in poultry production and human eye health.

摘要 叶黄素（Lutein）与玉米黄质（Zeaxanthin）是玉米粒中主要的叶黄素类（Xanthophyll）色素。此类色素赋予肉鸡皮肤与鸡蛋蛋黄橙红色外观。因此，对于家禽饲料生产商而言，掌握玉米的叶黄素类色素含量具有重要意义。本研究旨在测定哥伦比亚本土种植玉米，以及从美国、阿根廷、巴西进口至哥伦比亚的玉米中，叶黄素与玉米黄质的含量。经分析的玉米样品中，总叶黄素与玉米黄质含量存在显著差异；其中哥伦比亚玉米的平均含量最高，为2758μg/100g，依次为阿根廷（1861μg/100g）、美国（1041μg/100g）与巴西（947μg/100g）。哥伦比亚境内种植的不同玉米杂交品种（Corn hybrids）间，总叶黄素与玉米黄质含量同样存在显著差异。不同地理区域间的含量差异，可能源于作物生长期间所受UV-B辐射（UV-B radiation）时长或光照时长的差异；而不同玉米杂交品种间的含量差异，则可能源自遗传特性的不同。鉴于此类色素在家禽养殖与人类眼部健康中均具有重要价值，玉米种植者或许会倾向于种植叶黄素与玉米黄质含量更高的杂交品种。