Review of methods for analysis of carotenoids

• Carotenoids are widely investigated due to their potential protection of human health.
• The number of analytical techniques for carotenoids determination is increasing daily.
• Omics technologies are novel, useful tools to improve knowledge of carotenoids.
• We present a review on the existing methodology for analysis of carotenoids.

This review covers current analytical techniques, instruments and methodologies used in the analysis of carotenoids in foods and human samples. We also cover the importance of carotenoids for human health, carotenoid content in foods, bioavailability of carotenoids and evaluation of human intake of carotenoids. There are a wide variety of extraction methods and analytical techniques for determination of carotenoids. Recent advances in analytical instruments and the discovery of unknown metabolites of carotenoids widened the scope of carotenoid studies, especially through the application of metabolomics tools. Omics instruments and statistical methods perform untargeted and targeted profiling of carotenoids in foods and human samples, thus advancing knowledge of the composition of food containing carotenoids and their role in human health. Aimed at collating valuable information about recent analytical methodologies for carotenoids, this review mainly focuses on studies released in the past five years (2009–13).