Lutein Intake Research Articles

The neuropharmacological and clinical effects of lutein: a systematic review.

Neurodegenerative diseases are defined by specific protein accumulation and anatomic vulnerability leading to neuronal loss. Some studies have shown that lutein may have an effect on neurodegenerative diseases. As most of the neurodegenerative diseases don't have certain cure and therapies focus on symptom control, Lutein may be a complementary treatment. Due to controversies in studies investigating lutein effect on neurodegenerative diseases, we decided to perform a systematic review on these studies. A systematic search was carried out in the available databases. We used all MeSH terms and relevant keywords. Studies that reported relationship between lutein and any neurodegenerative disease were included. We found 278 studies. After removing duplicates, screening by titles and abstracts and excluding irrelevant papers, 17 articles were included in this study. Fourteen studies investigated Alzheimer's disease, 2 studies Parkinson's disease and 1 study Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. 1/17 study found that high serum levels of lutein at baseline were associated with a lower risk of AD mortality and lutein effect on lipid profile have been investigated in 2/17 studies. Also, 1/17 study has been shown that high intake of lutein may reduce the risk of ALS progression. 4/17 studies confirm that lutein can improve cognitive function. 8/17 studies demonstrate a reduction inthe progression of AD, and 2/17 studies indicate an improvement in lipid profiles. However, some studies did not find any significant associations. Additionally, there is a limited number of studies investigating the effects of lutein on other neurodegenerative diseases.

Eggs, Dietary Choline, and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in the Framingham Heart Study

BackgroundEggs are rich in bioactive compounds, including choline and carotenoids that may benefit cardiometabolic outcomes. However, little is known about their relationship with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). ObjectivesWe investigated the association between intakes of eggs and selected egg-rich nutrients (choline, lutein, and zeaxanthin) and NAFLD risk and changes in liver fat over ∼6 y of follow-up in the Framingham Offspring and Third Generation cohorts. MethodsOn 2 separate occasions (2002–2005 and 2008–2011), liver fat was assessed using a computed tomography scan to estimate the average liver fat attenuation relative to a control phantom to create the liver phantom ratio (LPR). In 2008–2011, cases of incident NAFLD were identified as an LPR ≤0.33 in the absence of heavy alcohol use, after excluding prevalent NAFLD (LPR ≤0.33) in 2002–2005. Food frequency questionnaires were used to estimate egg intakes (classified as <1, 1, and ≥2 per week), dietary choline (adjusted for body weight using the residual method), and the combined intakes of lutein and zeaxanthin. Multivariable modified Poisson regression and general linear models were used to compute incident risk ratios (RR) of NAFLD and adjusted mean annualized liver fat change. ResultsNAFLD cumulative incidence was 19% among a total of 1414 participants. We observed no associations between egg intake or the combined intakes of lutein and zeaxanthin with an incident NAFLD risk or liver fat change. Other diet and cardiometabolic risk factors did not modify this association. However, dietary choline intakes were inversely associated with NAFLD risk (RR for tertile 3 compared with 1:0.69, 95% CI: 0.51, 0.94). ConclusionsAlthough egg intake was not directly associated with NAFLD risk, eggs are a major source of dietary choline, which was strongly inversely associated with NAFLD risk in this community-based cohort.

Association between dietary intake of carotenoids and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease in US adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-March 2020.

To assess the relationship between dietary intake of α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene and lutein+zeaxanthin (LZ) and occurrence of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Cross-sectional study design. The MAFLD diagnosis was based on hepatic steatosis and metabolic dysregulation. Carotenoid intake was adjusted for using an energy-adjusted model. Logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analyses were used to assess the relationships, with sensitivity analysis to validate the findings. Weighted quantile sum regression (WQS) was used to explore the combined effect of these carotenoids on MAFLD. Subgroup analyses were conducted to identify population-specific associations. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-March 2020. This study included 5098 individuals aged 18 years and older. After adjusting for potential confounders, a weak inverse association was observed between α-carotene and β-carotene intakes and MAFLD occurrence (all P value <0·05). The highest quartile of β-carotene intake showed a significantly lower occurrence of MAFLD compared with the lowest quartile (OR = 0·65; 95 % CI: 0·44, 0·97). RCS analysis showed that a significantly lower occurrence of MAFLD was associated with a higher intake of the four carotenoids, excluding lycopene. Furthermore, the WQS analysis revealed a negative relationship between combined carotenoid intake and MAFLD occurrence (OR = 0·95, 95 % CI: 0·90, 1·00, P = 0·037). Subgroup analyses showed dietary carotenoid intake was associated with reduced MAFLD occurrence in populations aged 50-69 years, females, physically active individuals and non-drinkers. Higher dietary intake of carotenoids is associated with lower MAFLD occurrence. However, this relationship varies among individuals of different ages, sexes and lifestyles.

Eating Egg-Rich Diets and Modeling the Addition of One Daily Egg Reduced Risk of Nutrient Inadequacy among United States Adolescents with and without Food Insecurity

BackgroundAdolescents have the poorest dietary intake throughout their lifespan. Food insecurity worsens these nutritional risks. Eggs are a nutrient-dense strategy to increase nutrient quality. Objectives1) compare usual nutrient intakes, Dietary Reference Intake and protein compliance with recommendations and scores of micronutrient quality; and 2) analyze how adding 1 egg affects adolescents’ nutrient profiles, by food security status and egg-rich diets. MethodsDietary data of United States adolescents in the 2007–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed (14–17 y; n = 3633). Egg-rich diet levels were categorized as 1) no eggs, 2) eggs as ingredients in dishes, or 3) primarily egg dishes. Food security status was classified using the United States Household Food Security Survey Module. The National Cancer Institute method was used to estimate usual nutrient intake and nutrient exposure scores [i.e., Food Nutrient Index (FNI) and Total Nutrient Index (TNI)]. Nutrient amounts from 1 medium egg were modeled on existing intakes. Pairwise t-tests determined significant differences. ResultsOver 60% of adolescents risked inadequate intake of calcium, choline, magnesium, vitamin D, and vitamin E regardless of food security status. Food-secure adolescents consuming primarily egg dishes had higher mean usual intakes of lutein + zeaxanthin (1544.1 μg), choline (408.4 mg), vitamin B2 (2.3 mg), selenium (128.6 μg), vitamin D (6 μg), docosahexaenoic acid (70 mg), and protein (89.1 g) than other groups (P < 0.0002). Those who were food secure and consuming eggs as ingredients in dishes demonstrated higher nutrient adequacy for magnesium (scored ∼66 out of 100), potassium (scored 81), and total scores (scored 72 and 69, respectively) for the TNI and FNI; and folate only (scored 92) for the TNI, than those who were food insecure and not consuming eggs (P < 0.0002). Adding 1 egg increased choline and vitamin D usual intakes for some groups and nutrient index scores for all groups (P < 0.0005). ConclusionsAdolescents are at substantial nutritional risk that was exacerbated by food insecurity and less egg consumption.

Clinical rationale for dietary lutein supplementation in long COVID and mRNA vaccine injury syndromes

Lutein, a plant-derived xanthophyl-carotenoid, is an exceptional antioxidant and anti-inflammatory constituent found in food. High dietary intake of lutein is beneficial against eye disease, improves cardiometabolic health, protects from neurodegenerative diseases, and is beneficial for liver, kidney, and respiratory health. Lutein protects against oxidative and nitrosative stress, both of which play a major role in post-COVID and mRNA vaccination injury syndromes. Lutein is an important natural agent for therapeutic use against oxidative and nitrosative stress in chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. It can also potentially inhibit spike protein-induced inflammation. Rich dietary supplementation of lutein, naturally derived in non-biodegradable Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO), can most optimally be used against oxidative and nitrosative stress during post-COVID and mRNA vaccination injury syndromes. Due to its high oleic acid (OA) content, EVOO supports optimal absorption of dietary lutein. The main molecular pathways by which the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein induces pathology, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer activated B cells (NF-κB) and activated protein (AP)-1, can be suppressed by lutein. Synergy with other natural compounds for spike protein detoxification is likely.

The Potential Role of Lutein in Preventing the Development of Myopia

This paper comprehensively analyzed the role of lutein in the prevention of myopia progression. Myopia, especially in adolescents, has become an increasingly serious global problem. As a natural carotenoid, lutein is considered to be effective in preventing the development of myopia. This article first reviews the research progress on the effect of lutein on myopia, and then elaborates on the antioxidant properties of lutein, its regulatory effect on the intraocular environment, and its important role in maintaining visual development. In addition, this paper also discusses the methods of preventing myopia by reasonable intake of lutein and the use of lutein supplements, as well as the matters and challenges that should be paid attention to in this process. Finally, the article summarizes the potential of lutein in preventing myopia and proposes future research directions.

Clinical rationale for dietary lutein supplementation in post COVID-19 and mRNA vaccine injury syndromes

Lutein, a plant-derived xanthophyl-carotenoid, is an exceptional antioxidant and anti-inflammatory constituent found in food. High dietary intake of lutein is beneficial against eye disease, improves cardiometabolic health, protects from neurodegenerative diseases, and is beneficial for liver, kidney, and respiratory health. Lutein protects against oxidative and nitrosative stress, both of which play a major role in post-COVID and mRNA vaccination injury syndromes. Lutein is an important natural agent for therapeutic use against oxidative and nitrosative stress in chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. It can also potentially inhibit spike protein-induced inflammation. Rich dietary supplementation of lutein, naturally derived in non-biodegradable Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO), can most optimally be used against oxidative and nitrosative stress during post-COVID and mRNA vaccination injury syndromes. Due to its high oleic acid (OA) content, EVOO supports optimal absorption of dietary lutein. The main molecular pathways by which the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein induces pathology, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer activated B cells (NF-κB) and activated protein (AP)-1, can be suppressed by lutein. Synergy with other natural compounds for spike protein detoxification is likely.

Is variety more important than quantity of fruits and vegetables in relation to cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality? Results from a prospective cohort study

We aimed to prospectively assess the association between variety and quantity of fruits and vegetables (FV) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) incidence and mortality due to the limited evidence. Our analysis included 2,918 adults with a follow-up period of 29,559 person-years. An inverse association was detected between fruit intake and the risk of incidence and mortality from CVD. We found no association between diversity scores of fruits, vegetables, and FV with CVD risk. Subjects with high quantity-high variety, high quantity-low variety, and low quantity-high variety of fruits, vegetables, or FV exhibited no difference in CVD risk compared to the subjects with low quantity-low variety intake. Increasing the variety of FV was associated with increases in the intake of β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, vitamin C, selenium, fibre, fat, and protein after adjustment for the quantity and covariates. We detected an inverse association between fruit intake and the incidence and mortality rates of CVD.

Association between carotenoid intake and periodontitis in diabetic patients.

This study aimed to evaluate the association between dietary carotenoid intake and periodontitis in diabetic patients. Data on diabetic patients were collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009-2014 for this cross-sectional study. Dietary intake of carotenoids was assessed through the first 24-hour dietary recall interview. Full-mouth periodontal examinations were conducted by trained dental examiners. Subgroup analysis was conducted in terms of age, gender, the number of missing teeth, cardiovascular disease, smoking, and anti-diabetic drugs. Totally 1914 diabetic patients were included, with 1281 (66.93%) in the periodontitis group. After adjusting for age, gender, race, education, smoking, dental implants, hepatitis, and the number of missing teeth, α-carotene intake ≥55.82 mcg was associated with lower odds of periodontitis than α-carotene intake <55.82 mcg [OR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.53-0.91, P = 0.010]; lutein and zeaxanthin intake ≥795.95 mcg was associated with decreased odds of periodontitis than lutein and zeaxanthin intake <795.95 mcg (OR = 0.75, 95%CI: 0.57-0.98, P = 0.039). The association between carotenoid intake and periodontitis varied across different subpopulations. In diabetes, dietary intake of α-carotene and lutein and zeaxanthin was inversely associated with the odds of periodontitis, which may facilitate clinical periodontitis management.

Association of Dietary Carotenoids Intakes with Obesity in Adults: NHANES 2007-2018.

Previous studies on the relationship between dietary carotenoids and obesity are few, and the results are inconsistent. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the associations between total carotenoids, α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and lutein+zeaxanthin intakes and the risk of obesity in adults. This cross-sectional study was carried out based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2018. The two 24-h dietary recall interviews were used to collect dietary carotenoids data. Obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2. Logistic regression models and restricted cubic spline were used to assess the relationships between carotenoids intakes and obesity. A total of 25,868 adults aged 20 and over were enrolled in the present study. In multivariate logistic regression model 2, the odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of obesity were 0.82 (0.74-0.91), 0.80 (0.72-0.90), 0.77 (0.69-0.87), 0.85 (0.76-0.95), and 0.80 (0.73-0.89) for the highest versus the lowest of total carotenoids, α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, and lutein+zeaxanthin intakes, respectively. Dose-response analyses suggested that the carotenoids mentioned above were inversely related to obesity in a nonlinear manner. In multivariate-adjusted model 2, total carotenoids intake were associated with lower risk of Class 1, 2, and 3 obesity. This study indicated that intakes of total carotenoids, α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, and lutein+zeaxanthin were inversely associated with the risk of obesity.

Relationship between dietary carotenoid intake and sleep duration in American adults: a population-based study

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between dietary carotenoid intake and sleep duration.MethodsAdults enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2018 without missing information on dietary carotenoid intake (α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and lutein + zeaxanthin), sleep duration, and covariates were included. Participants’ carotenoid consumption was divided into three groups by quartiles and sleep duration was grouped as short (< 7 h/night), optimal (7–8 h/night), and long (> 8 h/night). Multinominal logistic regression was constructed to examine the association between dietary carotenoid intake and sleep duration. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression was further utilized to explore their dose-response relationship. The weighted quantile sum (WQS) model was adopted to calculate the mixed and individual effect of 5 carotenoid sub-types on sleep duration.ResultsMultinominal logistic regression presented that people with higher intakes of α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and lutein + zeaxanthin were less likely to sleep too short or too long. Consistent with the findings from multinominal logistic regression, the RCS models suggested a reverse U-shaped relationship between sleep duration and carotenoid intakes. The mixed effects were also significant, where β-cryptoxanthin and lutein + zeaxanthin were the top 2 contributors associated with the decreased risks of short sleep duration, while β-carotene, α-carotene, and β-cryptoxanthin were the main factors related to the lower risk of long sleep duration.ConclusionOur study revealed that the American adults with optimal sleep duration were associated with more dietary carotenoid intake, in comparison to short or long sleepers.

Lutein-Rich Beverage Alleviates Visual Fatigue in the Hyperglycemia Model of Sprague-Dawley Rats.

Asthenopia is a syndrome based on the symptoms of eye discomfort that has become a chronic disease that interferes with and harms people's physical and mental health. Lutein is an internationally recognized "eye nutrient", and studies have shown that it can protect the retina and relieve visual fatigue. In this study, lutein was extracted from marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) and saponified. The purified lutein concentration measured by HPLC was 50.12 mg/100 g. Then, purified lutein was modified to be water-soluble by nanoscale modification and microencapsulation technology. Water-soluble lutein was then mixed with a leaching solution of Chinese wolfberry and chrysanthemum to make a functional beverage. The effects of this beverage on hepatic antioxidant enzymes and the alleviation of visual fatigue in a rat model of diabetes were investigated for 4 weeks. Lutein intake of 0.72 (medium-lutein beverage group) and 1.44 mg/mL (high-lutein beverage group) relieved visual fatigue, ameliorated turbidity symptoms of impaired crystalline lenses, reduced hepatic MDA concentration, increased hepatic GSH concentration, and significantly increased the activities of the hepatic antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, and GR in rats. These data suggest that a lutein-rich beverage is an effective and harmless way to increase the total anti-oxidation capacity of lenses and alleviate visual fatigue.

Aging and antioxidants: the impact of dietary carotenoid intakes on soluble klotho levels in aged adults.

The association between dietary carotenoid intake and Soluble Klotho (S-Klotho) levels among the elderly population requires further evaluation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between the dietary carotenoid intake and the S-Klotho plasma levels in older adults. Eligible participants aged 60 years or above were selected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) data, collected between 2007 and 2016. The consumption of carotenoids was determined through two 24-hour dietary recall assessments. Moreover, the S-Klotho levels in the serum were measured using an Enzyme-Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay (ELISA). A total of 5,056 participants were included in the study having a median total carotenoid intake of 9775.25 μg (95% confidence interval (CI): 8971.30-10579.21) and a median S-Klotho concentration of 815.59 pg/mL (95% CI: 802.59-828.60). The multivariable regression analysis showed that a single standard deviation increase in total carotenoid intake was significantly associated with an 8.40 pg/mL increase in S-Klotho levels (95% CI: 0.48-16.31). When the carotenoids were divided into quartiles, participants in the third ((4963.5μg/day,11662.5μg/day]) and fourth quartiles ((11662.5μg/day,377178μg/day]) showed higher S-Klotho levels compared to those in the first quartile. Among carotenoid subtypes, increased intake of α-carotene, β-carotene, and lutein with zeaxanthin was associated with elevated S-Klotho levels. These observed associations between carotenoid subtypes and S-Klotho levels remained consistent across male participants, having a normal weight, and a moderate physical activity based on stratified analysis. The total carotenoid intake was positively related to plasma levels of S-Klotho in the elderly population, particularly for α-carotene, β-carotene, and lutein with zeaxanthin. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms behind this relationship.

Skin Carotenoids Measured by Reflection Spectroscopy Correlate With Dietary Carotenoid Intake in Racially and Ethnically Diverse US Toddlers From Houston, Texas

BackgroundMethods to objectively assess fruit and vegetable (FV) intake in young children are needed in order to support rigorous assessments of policies and interventions. Noninvasive skin carotenoid concentration measurements may provide a rapid assessment of toddler carotenoid and carotenoid-rich FV intake. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between pressure-mediated reflection spectroscopy-measured skin carotenoid score (SCS) with proxy-reported carotenoid and FV intake in racially and ethnically diverse US toddlers. DesignThis study was a secondary analysis of data obtained from a randomized controlled 10-week study of the effect of an interactive healthy playgroup intervention vs classroom parent education on the diet and physical activity of toddlers. This study collected skin carotenoid and 1-week dietary intake using a 31-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire analyzed by the Nutrient Data System for Research nutrient database. The current study determined dietary predictors of toddler SCS. Participants/settingParticipants were racially and ethnically diverse US toddlers (12 to 36 months) and adult guardian dyads (n = 50) recruited from the community in Houston, TX from fall 2018 to spring 2019. Main outcome measuresAt baseline and 10 to 12 weeks after baseline, SCS was measured by means of pressure-mediated reflection spectroscopy (Veggie Meter, Longevity Link Corporation), guardians reported toddler diet using a food frequency questionnaire, and carotenoid intake was estimated from the food frequency questionnaire responses using a nutrient database. Statistical analysisThe relationship between toddler SCS and intake of total and individual carotenoid species and FV servings was tested using generalized linear mixed models, controlling for body mass index-for-age percentiles, group assignment, and age. ResultsSCS was positively and significantly predicted by estimated intakes of total carotenoids (P = .002), β-carotene (P ≤ .001), and lutein and zeaxanthin (P = .003). Reported intakes of α-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, and lycopene were not predictors of SCS. SCS was predicted by estimated total FV intake (P = .047) and vegetable intake (P = .006), but not fruit intake (P = .580). ConclusionsThese results showed that reported dietary carotenoid intake is a significant predictor of SCS in an ethnically and racially diverse population of US toddlers. Toddler skin carotenoid measurement holds promise as a rapid, objective, noninvasive biomarker of dietary carotenoid intake.

Lutein and zeaxanthin - radio- and chemoprotective properties. Mechanism and possible use.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are naturally occurring xanthophylls, mainly present in green, leafy vegetables and egg's yolk. Their presence is connected with blue spectrum light absorbance, including UV. This property, and fact, that these xanthophylls are accumulated by human eye's macula, leads to eye's protective functions of them including protection from age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Also, antioxidative features of lutein and zeaxanthin are boosting overall health of human body. Numerous studies proves anti-inflammatory and protective attributes of these compounds, based on many, different mechanisms. One of them is regulating redox potential in cells, and impact on expression of linked genes. In preventing of eye diseases, an important gene that is regulated by lutein and zeaxanthin is the Nrf2 gene, whose increased activity leads to optimizing the cellular response to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and preventing related diseases. Other research confirms antiproliferative properties of mentioned compounds in case of certain human cancer cell lines. There are e.g.: HepG2 (hepatitis cancer), MCF-7 (breast cancer), which treated in vitro with lutein solution showed reduction of cell growth. Lutein alone, during in vivo studies conducted on mice, exhibited also radioprotective properties, positively affecting the vitality of animals. Lutein provides also increasing of tolerance to UV radiation, reducing inflammatory processes in the skin and preventing oncogenesis. Low intake of lutein and zeaxanthin, associated with "western diet", rich in simple carbohydrates and processed food, common in developed countries, including Poland, is linked with diabetes and obesity incidence. Assuming, lutein and zeaxanthin significantly affect the well-being of the human body, and their appropriate amount in diet can help reduce risk of many diseases. For supplementation, the optimized dosage of these xanthophylls includes doses of 10 mg for lutein and 2 mg for zeaxanthin, and it is recommended to consume along with fats or meals rich in fats.

Effect of xanthophyll-rich food and supplement intake on visual outcomes in healthy adults and those with eye disease: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials

Xanthophyll intake is known to improve eye health; however, its benefits on visual outcomes have not been systematically studied, particularly in a population with eye diseases. A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression were conducted to investigate the effect of xanthophyll intake on visual outcomes, and further subgroup analysis was performed on the basis of eye disease status. The PubMed, Scopus, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases were searched, and relevant randomized controlled trials were identified. For systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression, 43, 25, and 21 articles were selected, respectively. Xanthophyll intake enhanced macular pigment optical density (MPOD) for both heterochromatic flicker photometry (weighted mean difference [WMD], 0.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.03-0.07) and autofluorescence imaging (WMD, 0.08; 95%CI, 0.05-0.11) measurements and decreased photostress recovery time (WMD, -2.35; 95%CI, -4.49 to -0.20). While enhancement in visual acuity logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution was observed in response to the xanthophyll-rich food and supplement intake only for patients with eye disease (WMD, -0.04; 95%CI, -0.07 to -0.01). Meta-regression showed a positive correlation between change in MPOD (heterochromatic flicker photometry) and the corresponding change in serum lutein levels (regression coefficient = 0.068; P = 0.00). Intake of xanthophyll-rich food or supplements can improve eye health. Additional improvement in visual acuity was observed in patients with eye disease. A positive association between MPOD and serum lutein level, while absent with dietary xanthophyll intake, suggests the importance of bioavailability when examining the effect of xanthophyll on eye health. PROSPERO registration no. CRD42021295337.

Food sources of lutein and its effect on the human health

Carotenoids are plant pigments having beneficial biological activities for humans, such as pro-vitamin A, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, among others. However, the human organism cannot produce these compounds on its own, therefore they must be supplied through a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, particularly one consisting of lutein. Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids belonging to the xanthophyll group. Although they have no pro-vitamin A activity, they are important carotenoids for eye healthcare. Thus, this work is aimed at performing a literature review on the main foods containing lutein so as to investigate the effect of its consumption on human health. It is noted that vegetables having dark green leaves are foods containing the highest lutein content, especially capuchin leaf, an unconventional food plant. In addition, lutein intake has numerous health benefits, such as minimizing the risk of macular diseases, as well as slowing down the progression of several chronic diseases, thus evidencing the importance of consuming such foods.

Maternal High-Fat Diet Consumption in Sprague Dawley Rats Compromised the Availability and Altered the Tissue Distribution of Lutein in Neonatal Offspring.

Lutein, the most abundant carotenoid in the infant eye and brain, is critical for their visual and cognitive development. Due to its lipophilic nature, a high adiposity may affect the tissue distribution of lutein. The aim of the study was to determine the impacts of a maternal high-fat diet (HFD) consumption on the status of lutein in the neonatal offspring. Female Sprague Dawley rats (n = 6) were fed a normal fat diet (NFD) or a HFD for 8 weeks before mating, and they were switched to an NFD or an HFD containing the same concentration of lutein ester during gestation and lactation. Rat pups (n = 7/group/time) were euthanized on postnatal day 2 (P2), P6, P11, and P20 for measuring tissue lutein concentrations. No significant difference in maternal lutein intake was found between the two groups. At both P6 and P11, a significantly lower lutein concentration was noted in the milk samples separated from the stomach of HFD pups than the concentration in the samples from the NFD pups; the HFD group showed a significantly lower lutein concentration in the liver. At P11, the HFD pups exhibited a significantly lower lutein concentration in the eye, brain, and brown adipose tissue accompanied with a significantly higher lutein concentration and mass in the visceral white adipose tissue. The study was the first to provide evidence that maternal HFD consumption resulted in a compromised availability and altered distribution of lutein in the neonatal offspring.

Abstract 6447: Carotenoid and tocopherol intake in relation to pancreatic cancer risk in a population-based case-control study

Abstract Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S. and has a 5-year relative survival rate of only 11.5%. The etiology of pancreatic cancer is not well understood, with cigarette smoking, type 2 diabetes, and chronic pancreatitis as the only well-established risk factors. Therefore, it is critical to identify modifiable risk factors for primary prevention. Persistent oxidative stress and resultant oxidative damage can lead to accumulated mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes and subsequent carcinogenesis of the pancreas. Carotenoids are abundant in fruits and vegetables, while tocopherols are rich in oilseeds and nuts. Both carotenoids and tocopherols have antioxidant functions. Thus, it is possible that high intake of these bioactive compounds can reduce risk of pancreatic cancer. The present study sought to investigate this question in a case-control study conducted during 1994-1998 in Minnesota. Cases (n=150), aged 20 years or older, were ascertained from all hospitals in the metropolitan area of the Twin Cities and the Mayo Clinic; from the latter, only cases residing in the Upper Midwest of the US were recruited. Controls (n=459) were randomly selected from the general population and frequency matched to cases by age (within 5 years) and sex. Intake of carotenoids and tocopherols from diet and supplements was estimated from a validated food frequency questionnaire. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using unconditional logistic regression. As lutein and zeaxanthin are isomers that have identical chemical formulas, they are combined into a single variable in the analysis. All dietary variables were adjusted for energy intake with the residual method prior to data analysis. After adjustment for age, sex, race, education, physical activity, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption, intake of lutein and zeaxanthin was associated with a significantly reduced risk of pancreatic cancer [OR (95% CI) for quartile 4 (median: 4972 µg/day) vs. quartile 1 (median: 976 µg/day): 0.39 (0.19-0.79); p-trend: 0.06]. This inverse association became slightly weaker but remained statistically significant after additional adjustment for intake of energy, fat, and fiber. No significant associations were observed for intake of α-carotene, β-carotene, lycopene, β-cryptoxanthin, α-tocopherol, β-tocopherol, and δ-tocopherol, although a higher intake of all these nutrients except α-tocopherol and δ-tocopherol tended to confer a lower risk. Our study shows that there is a significant, beneficial effect of lutein and zeaxanthin intake on pancreatic cancer risk, although it may be a chance finding due to multiple comparisons. More epidemiologic studies are warranted to further elucidate the roles of carotenoids and tocopherols in the etiology and prevention of pancreatic cancer. Citation Format: Bronson Dokmanovich, Hao fan, Yunpeng Yu, Kristin Anderson, Jianjun Zhang. Carotenoid and tocopherol intake in relation to pancreatic cancer risk in a population-based case-control study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 6447.

Association of vitamins with hearing loss, vision disorder and sleep problem in the US general population.

Based on nationally representative samples from US, we aimed to assess the associations of vitamins with hearing loss, vision disorder and sleep problem. A total of 25,312, 8425 and 24,234 participants were included in this study to investigate the relationship of vitamins with hearing loss, vision disorder and sleep problem from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, respectively. Vitamins including niacin, folic acid, vitamin B6, A, C, E and carotenoids were considered in our study. Logistic regression models were used to assess the associations between all included dietary vitamin intake concentrations and the prevalence of specific outcomes. Increased lycopene (odds ratio [OR]: 0.904, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.829-0.985) intake was associated with a deceased prevalence of hearing loss. Higher dietary intake of folic acid (OR: 0.637, 95% CI: 0.443-0.904), vitamin B6 (0.667, 0.465-0.947), alpha-carotene (0.695, 0.494-0.968), beta-carotene (0.703, 0.505-0.969) and lutein + zeaxanthin (0.640, 0.455-0.892) were associated with a decreased prevalence of vision disorder. The inversely associations of sleeping problem with niacin (OR: 0.902, 95% CI: 0.826-0.985), folic acid (0.882, 0.811-0.959), vitamin B6 (0.892, 0.818-0.973), vitamin C (0.908, 0.835-0.987), vitamin E (0.885, 0.813-0.963) and lycopene (0.919, 0.845-0.998) were also observed. Our findings provide evidence that increased specific vitamin intake is associated with decreased prevalence of hearing loss, vision disorder and sleep problem.