An absolute interlinks between inflammation and obesity with scarce investigations on the role of lutein in inflammation‐induced obesity motivated us to explore the protective mechanism of lutein on adipogenesis‐mediated inflammation in vitro by culturing RAW264.7 macrophages in adipocyte conditioned medium. The RAW264 macrophage cells were cultured with adipocyte‐conditioned media, and the potency of lutein on the expression of adipocyte inflammation‐associated protein markers (IL‐1β, MCP‐1, TNF‐α, IL‐6, NF‐κB, and IKKα/β) were analyzed by western blotting. The data revealed that lutein effectively reduces the protein levels of major inflammatory markers such as NF‐κB, IL‐1β, MCP‐1, and TNF‐α in differentiated adipocytes. Interestingly, lutein hampered inflammation in the RAW264 cells that were cultured in adipocyte‐conditioned media by lowering the protein expression of IL‐1β, MCP‐1, and TNF‐α. The blockage of inflammation by lutein in both differentiated adipocytes, and adipogenesis‐induced macrophages is associated with suppression of IKK α/β phosphorylation. These data suggest that lutein potentially alters adipocyte differentiation‐mediated inflammation by regulating the NF‐κB signaling pathway. Thus, lutein could be utilized as a potent nutraceutical agent in the management of obesity and associated inflammation.

Lutein isolated from a dietary source exhibited an inhibitory effect in adipogenesis‐induced inflammations. The findings of this study authenticate the diversified prospective of lutein in regulating obesity and other inflammation‐related diseases. Thus, it is understood that continuous intake of lutein‐rich food or dietary intervention of lutein may reduce the risk of developing obesity.