Pasteur Institute builds food research

The two ingredients are the only two dietary carotenoids the human retina selectively accumulates and are thought to help guard against age related macular degeneration (AMD).

They are popularly consumed in supplement form, but other food sources are dark green, leafy vegetables such as spinach; kale; collard greens; mustard greens and turnip greens.

Jean-Michel Lecerf, clinical nutritionist, associate professor and chef du service de nutrition at Lille's Pasteur Institute, said the lutein/zeaxanthin project was about half way through.

So far, research suggests that eggs enriched with the two carotenoids would enable people to consume much larger quantities than are present in supplements. In addition, they would also boost levels of the nutrients absorbed by the body once ingested.

Lecerf said this was one of many projects currently in process at the institute. "We also have one looking at components of sugar that could lower blood pressure."​ He was speaking at the Nutrevent conference, which was held in Lille last month.

The institute was also working on mixed results from phytosterols, which are currently the focus of intense interest due to studies indicating their ability to help cut bad cholesterol levels.

"Some think there is a problem with phytosterol consumption, which in some cases does not show a decrease in cardiovascular risk. It maybe even shows an increase,"​ said Lecerf.

In the area of weight management, the Pasteur institute at Lille was also conducting research into the tendency to regain weight after dieting and what could be done nutritionally to help prevent this.

Lecerf also referred to the institute's work on combining the prebiotics inulin and xylooligosaccharide in order to significantly strengthen their ability to reduce gut inflammation.