A method was established for the determination of carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, beta-carotene) in health products by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The extraction methods of carotenoids from different types of samples were also established. Separation and quantification was achieved by using a Diamonsil C18 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm i.d., 5 microm), and a mobile phase of acetonitrile and ethyl acetate were used with the following gradient elution: 100% acetonitrile at the first 15 min, then ethyl acetate increased to 100% in the next 10 min, at last 100% acetonitrile for 5 min with a flow rate of 1 mL/min, temperature of 25 degrees C and monitored with a photodiode array detector at 450 nm. The external standard calibration curves were used for quantification. There were good linear correlations for the four carotenoids. The correlation coefficients were between 0.999 4 and 0. 999 7. The detection limits were 0.4-0.5 mg/L. The recoveries of four carotenoids in tablet samples were 95.3%-98.7% with the relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 0.89%-2.0%. The recoveries of four carotenoids in powder samples were 93.7%-98.8% with RSDs of 0.89%-2.8%. The recoveries of four carotenoids in oil samples were 97.1%-99.2% with RSDs of 0.42%-1.2%. This method is simple, fast, accurate and convenient. It can be used as one of the reliable means for quantitative determination of carotenoid in health products.