A xanthophyll composition that contains macular pigments including trans-lutein and zeaxanthin isomers, namely, (R,R)-zeaxanthin and (R,S)-zeaxanthin, derived from the plant extract/oleoresin containing xanthophylls/xanthophylls esters which is safe for human consumption and useful for nutrition and health care. The composition has at least 80% by weight that is total xanthophylls, of which the ratio of trans-lutein and zeaxanthin isomers being in the range of about 4:1 to about 6:1 and the ratio of the isomers of zeaxanthin being in the range of about 80 to 20:20 to 80.
