Lutein is a yellow Carotenoid found in vegetables                 Order

Eyes/Vision

Lutein helps to protect against the development of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) [3 mg or more per day of lutein lowers the risk of developing ARMD by 57%].

Lutein concentrates in the Lens of the Eyes and protects against the development of Cataracts by protecting the Cells of the Eyes from light-generated Free Radicals.

Lutein concentrates in and improves the health of the Macula (yellow spot on the back of the eye) and of the Retina of the Eyes (it is particularly concentrated in the Rods) [30 mg of Lutein per day caused the Macula to become denser and to gain pigment. After 140 days of Lutein supplementation, Macula pigmentation increased by an average of 30%. Improvements in Macula health/function continued for six weeks after Lutein supplementation was discontinued].

Immune System

Lutein helps to prevent breast cancer.

Lutein helps to prevent lung cancer [epidemiological evidence: high Lutein levels have been inversely correlated with lung cancer incidence].

Lutein reduces the risk of prostate cancer.


References

Le Marchand, I., et al. Intake of specific carotenoids and lung cancer risk. Cancer Epidemiology. 2:183-187, 1993.

Khachik, F., et al. Identification of lutein and zeaxanthin oxidation products in human and monkey retinas. Invest Ophthalmol. 38(9):1802-1811, 1997.

Hammond, B. R. Jr., et al. Density of the human crystalline lens is related to the macular pigment carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin. Optom Vis Sci. 74(7):499-504, 1997.

Landrum, J. T., et al. A one-year study of the macular pigment: The effect of 140 days of lutein supplement. Exp Eye Res. 65:57-62, 1997.

Seddon, J., et al. Dietary carotenoids, vitamins A, C, and E, and advanced age-related macular degeneration. Journal of the American Medical Association. 272:18:1413-1420, 1994.

Snodderly, D. Evidence for protection against age-related macular degeneration by carotenoids and antioxidant vitamins. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 62:1448-1461, 1995


Lutein And Zeaxanthin May Offer Protection Against MD
By Dan Roberts
Updated April 2004

Progress is being made in the study of both lutein and zeaxanthin as potentially effective nutritional supplements for macular degeneration patients.

According to a 1995 study, increasing the consumption of dark green, leafy vegetables appears to offer some protection against macular degeneration. Because nutritional factors may play a role in AMD, researchers decided to correlate the disease with dietary antioxidant intake in subjects participating in the NIH Eye Disease Case-Control Study (Seddon JM et al. JAMA. 1994; 272: 1413-1420).

The investigators found that higher intakes of carotenoids were associated with a reduced risk of wet (exudative neovascular) macular degeneration.

The carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin were the most strongly associated with reduced risk of MD. These are obtained primarily from dark green, leafy vegetables such as spinach, collard greens, kale, mustard greens, and turnip greens. Eating spinach and collard greens five or more times a week was found to noticeably reduce the risk of MD. Other conclusions from the study were:

1. The intake of retinol (preformed vitamin A) supplements showed no effect on MD.
2. Vitamin C from food intake had little effect.
3. Vitamin E actually showed negative effects.


In addition to their antioxidant mechanism, lutein and zeaxanthin may help to protect the retina for any or all of the following reasons:

1. They may protect against photodamage of the retina by filtering out blue light, which is not stopped by the cornea and lens, and which can damage the retina over time;
2. They may protect against peroxidation of fatty acids in the photoreceptor membrane;
3. They may protect the blood vessels that supply the macular region.


On April 7, 2004 the North Chicago VA Medical Center issued a press release announcing that lutein has been shown to not only help prevent, but to actually reverse symptoms of ARMD. According to the release, "The LAST study (Lutein Antioxidant Supplementation Trial) is the first trial to record actual improvement in several key visual functions among patients with AMD". The data was published in the April issue of Optometry - The Journal of the American Optometric Association. Stuart Richer, O.D., Ph.D., chief of optometry at the North Chicago VA Medical Center and associate professor at the Illinois College of Optometry, was the LAST lead investigator. He was quoted as saying that lutein is "by no means a cure for AMD, [but] the study does show improvement among several disease symptoms in AMD patients".

The press release went on to say that, "in the study, 90 AMD patients were supplemented daily with an OcuPower supplement capsule containing 10 mg of crystalline FloraGLO lutein, 10 mg lutein plus a mixed antioxidant formula, or placebo for 12 months. The average American ingests one to two mg of lutein daily. . . Patients ingesting the lutein supplement experienced significant improvements in several objective measurements of visual function including glare recovery, contrast sensitivity, and visual acuity vs. placebo. Patients also experienced a 50% increase in macular pigment density relative to those on placebo".

Other research examining the effectiveness of lutein and zeaxanthin on ARMD is being conducted by the National Eye Institute (NEI) in a study called the "Carotenoids and Age-Related Eye Disease in Women's Health Study".

Elsewhere, in an overview of the research, the Roche Company concludes that lutein and zeaxanthin "possess physical and chemical properties that are biologically well suited to protect the macula and lens. Based on typical intake in the general population and reported intakes of lutein and zeaxanthin associated with reduced risk, people may need to increase consumption of these carotenoids to cover a potential dietary gap of at least 2 to 4 mg/day."

Additional research:                                                     Order

Macular pigments lutein and zeaxanthin as blue light filters studied in liposomes. Junghans A, Sies H, Stal W. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2001 Jul 15:391(2):160-4

A2E and blue light in the retina: the paradigm of age-related macular degeneration. Shaban H, Richter C. Biol Chem. 2002 Mar-Apr;383(3-4):537-45

Biologic mechanisms of the protective role of lutein and zeaxanthin in the eye. Krinsky NI, Landrum JT, Bone RA, Annu Rev Nutr. 2003;23:171-201. Feb 27, 2003

Lutein and zeaxanthin status and risk of age-related macular degeneration, Gale CR, Hall NF, et al. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2003 Jun;44(6):2461-5

Macular pigment: influences on visual acuity and visibility. Wooten BR, Hammond BR. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2002 Mar;21(2):225-40

Effect of dietary zeaxanthin on tissue distribution of zeaxanthin and lutein in quail. Toyoda Y, Thomson LR, Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2002 Apr;43(4):1210-21

Elevated retinal zeaxanthin and prevention of light-induced photoreceptor cell death in quail. Thomson LR, toyoda Y, et al. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 2002 Nov;43(11):3538-49