By Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS, March 12, 2015, abstracted from \u201cChanges following supplementation with lutein and zeaxanthin in retinal function in eyes with early age-related macular degeneration: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial\u201d in the March 2015 issue of the British Journal of Ophthalmology<\/p>\n
Age-related macular degeneration is common and a leading cause of sight loss after age 50. More than 200,000 Americans lose vision from retinal degeneration annually [1], with three million cases expected over the next 20 years. It damages the macula, a small area near the retina\u2019s centre that enables straight-ahead vision. It occurs mainly after 60, with risk factors including smoking, which doubles risk; race, with greater prevalence in white people; and family history [2].<\/p>\n
A new study [3] suggests lutein and zeaxanthin may improve eye function in early AMD. It included 112 patients aged 62\u201376 with early age-related macular degeneration, reported as divided into four groups of 23 for two years:<\/p>\n
Group 1 received 10 mg lutein daily.
\nGroup 2 received 20 mg lutein daily.
\nGroup 3 received 10 mg lutein plus 10 mg zeaxanthin daily.
\nGroup 4 received placebo as controls.<\/p>\n
Researchers measured optical density and retinal sensitivity.<\/p>\n
After two years, the 10 mg and 20 mg lutein groups showed 36.1% greater optical density than controls, while the combination group showed an 18.2% increase.<\/p>\n
For retinal sensitivity, controls averaged 10.3 decibels. Sensitivity was 29.8% higher in the 10 mg lutein group, 21.8% higher in the 20 mg group and 9.7% higher in the combination group after two years, but statistical significance was not achieved.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, original retinal-sensitivity levels for the groups were not obtained, so absolute increases or decreases could not be calculated.<\/p>\n
The researchers explained that improving optical density matters because low density may be an AMD risk factor [4]. Increased retinal sensitivity follows directly from increased optical density [5,1].<\/p>\n
The study suggests lutein and zeaxanthin supplements may increase optical density and improve visual function in early AMD, but their effect on optical density in AMD requires further investigation.<\/p>\n
References:<\/strong><\/p>\n [1] Parisi V, Tedeschi M, Gallinaro G, et al. Carotenoids and antioxidants in age-related maculopathy Italian study: multifocal electroretinogram modifications after 1 year.\u00a0Ophthalmology\u00a02008;115:324\u201333<\/p>\n [2] \u00a0\u201cFacts About Age-Related Macular Degeneration\u201d posted on the National Eye Institute website<\/p>\n [3] Huang YM.\u00a0Changes following supplementation with lutein and zeaxanthin in retinal function in eyes with early age-related macular degeneration: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.\u00a0Br J Ophthalmol\u00a02015 Mar;99(3):371-5. doi: 10.1136\/bjophthalmol-2014-305503. Epub 2014 Sep 16<\/p>\n [4] \u00a0Weigert G, Kaya S, Pemp B, et al. Effects of lutein supplementation on macular pigment optical density and visual acuity in patients with age-related macular degeneration.\u00a0Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci\u00a02011;52:8174\u20138<\/p>\n [5] Ma L, Dou HL, Huang YM, et al. Improvement of retinal function in early age-related macular degeneration after lutein and zeaxanthin supplementation: a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial.\u00a0Am J Ophthalmol2012;154:625\u201334<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS, March 12, 2015, abstracted from \u201cChanges following supplementation with lutein and zeaxanthin in retinal function<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[727],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16707","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-727"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n