Clinical Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Lutein with High Bio-Accessibility on Macular Pigment Optical Density and Contrast Sensitivity: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Parallel-Group Comparison Trial.

Naomichi Machida,Nobuyoshi Kitaichi,Marie Kosehira

doi:10.3390/nu12102966

Naomichi Machida, Nobuyoshi Kitaichi + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12102966

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Abstract

Improvements in macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and contrast sensitivity after administration of 12 mg lutein alone and the timing at which efficacy is observed remain unknown. Therefore, lutein (12 mg), a crystalline formulation, was used in this study, considering its bioaccessibility. This study aimed to determine the effects of lutein administration for 16 weeks on MPOD, contrast sensitivity, and glare sensitivity, and changes in serum lutein levels were determined. The study subjects comprised 59 healthy male and female adults aged 20–69 years. The study diet included a placebo (placebo group) or a diet supplemented with 12 mg of lutein (lutein group). Each study diet was continuously administered for 16 weeks. At weeks 8 and 16, MPOD, contrast sensitivity, glare sensitivity, and serum lutein levels were evaluated. Compared with the placebo group, the lutein group showed significantly improved MPOD, contrast sensitivity, and glare sensitivity at week 16 and significantly increased serum lutein levels at weeks 8 and 16. Continuous administration of lutein for 16 weeks, considering its bioaccessibility, increased MPOD; it made the outlines of visible objects clearer and was effective in inhibiting decreases in visual function caused by glare from light.

Highlights

Age-related macular degeneration is one of the eye diseases caused by aging; it leads to age-related damage to the macula and central part of the retina as well as symptoms such as darkening, distortion, defects of the center of the visual field, and vision loss
Nonpolar carotenes and lycopenes are more likely to be distributed in very low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs) and low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), whereas the polar carotenoids—lutein and zeaxanthin—are more likely to be distributed in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) [22]
High levels of HDL are associated with high blood levels of lutein [23], and the present study showed a positive correlation between HDL and serum lutein levels

Summary

Introduction

Age-related macular degeneration is one of the eye diseases caused by aging; it leads to age-related damage to the macula and central part of the retina as well as symptoms such as darkening, distortion, defects of the center of the visual field, and vision loss. This disease is the leading cause of blindness in adults in Europe and the USA, it was considered relatively infrequent in Japan. These carotenoids protect the macular fovea from photochemical damage caused by visible light, such as blue light, and reduce the risk of damage [3,4].

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