Antioxidants and Lutein in Pohnpei Breadfruit

by Dr. Lois Englberger

Lutein is a carotenoid, and like other carotenoids (for example, beta-carotene, which is promoted here in Pohnpei on all our banana posters), lutein is an antioxidant.

Antioxidants help to reduce free radical damage and reduce oxidative stress. And how does that help us? This helps protect against cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, accelerated aging, and glaucoma!

And how is lutein represented in local foods? I am very happy to share with you that breadfruit is rich in lutein, especially Mei Kole and the seeded varieties, including Mekinono of the Marshall Islands, and also the Pohnpeian varieties Meitoal and Meiuhpw. The levels in Micronesian breadfruit varieties (from 90 to 750 micrograms/100 g) are even higher than the levels of lutein in banana varieties (from <10 to 260 micrograms/100 g) and giant swamp taro varieties (from 10 to 220 micrograms/100g)!

The most well-known food sources of lutein are green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kangkong, chaya, and pele, which contain . More information on lutein levels of Micronesian breadfruit, banana, and giant swamp taro varieties can be found on our website in our published paper titled: Micronesian banana, taro, and other foods: newly recognized sources of provitamin A and other carotenoids. J Food Comp. Anal 2003: 3-19.

Thank you to the New Zealand Institute of Crop and Food Research for providing me with a booklet titled: Antioxidants: A Health Revolution written by Carolyn Lister, 2003, which gave the information here on antioxidants.

Thank you also to Sight and Life and the DSM Nutritional Products laboratory in Switzerland for their support and analyses for lutein and other carotenoids in our Micronesian local foods.