Unfortunately, the same structural attributes of carotenoids that are thought to
impart health benefits also make these compounds highly susceptible to oxidation. Given the susceptibility of carotenoids
to degradation, particularly once they have been extracted from biological tissues, it is important to understand the major
mechanisms of oxidation in order to design delivery systems that protect these compounds when they are used as functional
food ingredients. This article reviews current understanding of the oxidation mechanisms by which carotenoids are degraded,
including pathways induced by heat, light, oxygen, acid, transition metal, or interactions with radical species. In addition,
several carotenoid delivery systems are evaluated for their potential to decrease carotenoid degradation in functional food
products.