Abstract Background Carotenoids were invented millions of years ago to interact with light in cyanobacterial photosynthesis. Curiously, extraordinary levels of them are accumulated in the human retina at the location where light reaches with the highest intensity. Beyond their fundamental functions in photosynthesis, the primal food factory, many organisms harnessed carotenoids and their derivatives for different purposes. In this review, aspects such as carotenoid distribution, their role in food security, dietary importance, bioavailability, biological actions related to health and safety are summarized. Sustainability aspects and research needs are also pinpointed. Conclusions It is indisputable that carotenoids are essential for food production in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Studies of different nature provide ample evidence that they are involved in health benefits. Indeed, their intake and/or circulating levels are often associated to lower all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Research on carotenoids is undoubtedly pivotal in the current health-promoting and sustainable foods era. Given their importance in different industries (agriculture, food, feed, pharma, cosmetics) working toward reducing the overall environmental impact of the production of (apo)carotenoids is a timely research priority. Other important needs are the establishment of recommended intakes for health promotion and cross-talk with research networks on other bioactives to assess interactions among them and better understand their health benefits. Considering that only the tip of the iceberg of all carotenoids is being studied in depth and that they can form a myriad of mostly unknown apocarotenoids, there are many chances for innovation in the field.
Antonio J Meléndez-Martínez (Mon,) studied this question.