Journal of International Society for Food Bioactives Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods Review J. Food Bioact. 2020;10:32–46 Chemistry and biochemistry of dietary carotenoids: bioaccessibility, bioavailability and bioactivities Cheng Yanga,b, Lianfu Zhanga,b and Rong Tsaoc* aState Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China bSchool of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China cGuelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 93 Stone Road West, Guelph, Ontario N1G 5C9, Canada *Corresponding author: Rong Tsao, Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 93 Stone Road West, Guelph, Ontario N1G 5C9, Canada. Tel: +1 226 217 8180. Fax: +1 226 217 8183. E-mail:
[email protected] DOI: 10.31665/JFB.2020.10225 Received: April 10, 2020; Revised received & accepted: June 26, 2020 Citation: Yang, C., Zhang, L., and Tsao, R. (2020). Chemistry and biochemistry of dietary carotenoids: bioaccessibility, bioavailability and bioactivities. J. Food Bioact. 10: 32–46. Abstract Carotenoids are one of the major food bioactives that provide humans with essential vitamins and other critically important nutrients that contribute to the maintenance of human health. This review provides a summary of the most current literature data and information on most recent advances in dietary carotenoids and human health research. Specifically, it addresses the occurrence and distribution of carotenoids in different dietary sources, the effect of food processing and impact of gastrointestinal digestion on the bioaccessibility, bioavailability and bioac- tivities of dietary carotenoids. Emphasis is placed on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of carotenoids and their optical/geometric isomers and ester forms, and the molecular mechanisms behind these actions.