Lutein exhibits effective antioxidant activity conferring protective action against oxidative stress in age-related macular degeneration and cognitive decline. The inability to synthesize these compounds by the human body and the necessity to combat day-to-day oxidative stress prioritizes daily consumption of lutein. However, the bioavailability of the orally consumed lutein largely depends on its gastrointestinal absorption and subsequent metabolism which is in turn governed by various intrinsic and extrinsic factors. One of the most important yet least studied factors is the genetic make-up of an individual. The proteins that partake in the absorption, transportation, metabolism and excretion of lutein are encoded by the genes that experience inter-individual variability. Reports suggest that the unanimous effect of phenotypes resulting from such inter-individual variability in the genes of interest causes modulation of lutein bioavailability which is discussed in detail in this review article. However, despite the available reports, a community-based approach to a larger population is required to obtain a stronger understanding of the relationship between inter-individual variability among these genes and lutein bioavailability. Such an understanding of nutrigenetics could not only pave a way to decipher mechanisms that modulate lutein bioavailability but also help in setting the dosage requirements of each patient.

叶黄素表现出有效的抗氧化活性，可在与年龄相关的黄斑变性和认知能力下降中提供针对氧化应激的保护作用。人体无法合成这些化合物以及对抗日常氧化应激的必要性，因此优先考虑每天摄入叶黄素。然而，口服叶黄素的生物利用度很大程度上取决于其胃肠道吸收和随后的代谢，而后者又受各种内在和外在因素的控制。最重要但研究最少的因素之一是个体的基因构成。参与叶黄素吸收、运输、代谢和排泄的蛋白质由经历个体差异的基因编码。报告表明，由感兴趣基因的这种个体间变异性导致的表型的一致影响导致叶黄素生物利用度的调节，这在这篇评论文章中详细讨论。然而，尽管有可用的报告，但需要对更大的人群采取基于社区的方法，以更深入地了解这些基因之间的个体间变异性与叶黄素生物利用度之间的关系。对营养遗传学的这种理解不仅可以为解读调节叶黄素生物利用度的机制铺平道路，还有助于设定每位患者的剂量要求。需要对更大的人群采取基于社区的方法，以便更深入地了解这些基因之间的个体差异与叶黄素生物利用度之间的关系。对营养遗传学的这种理解不仅可以为解读调节叶黄素生物利用度的机制铺平道路，还有助于设定每位患者的剂量要求。需要对更大的人群采取基于社区的方法，以便更深入地了解这些基因之间的个体差异与叶黄素生物利用度之间的关系。对营养遗传学的这种理解不仅可以为解读调节叶黄素生物利用度的机制铺平道路，还有助于设定每位患者的剂量要求。