Lutein Benefit for cataract, eye disease, and macular degeneration

Lutein Benefit for cataract, eye disease, macular degeneration, visual acuity

Numerous studies have shown that lutein and zeaxanthin provide significant benefit and protection against the potential damage caused by light striking macula lutea portion of the retina.
It is now well known that those with high intakes of fruit and vegetables have a lower risk for coronary disease, stroke, hypertension, obesity, many types of cancer, chronic pulmonary disease, osteoporosis, and various eye disorders, including macular degeneration. Fruits and vegetables have a high content of carotenoids and flavonoids. Lutein is an important carotenoid. Does the benefit of lutein extend beyond vision?

Lutein, 20 mg
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Lutein is a potent antioxidant carotenoid found in abundance in fruits and green leafy vegetables. Lutein is also one of the dominant pigments found in the macular region of the retina. In the macula, lutein is selectively accumulated from plasma and filters out visible blue light. Recent studies suggest this filtering process serves to benefit and protect the retina from damage caused by light or oxidation. This Lutein product is extracted from the marigold flower.

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Cataracts
Excessive sunlight exposure increases the risk for cataracts. Vitamin C, lutein, and zeaxanthin offer some protection against cataract formation. Eyesight vision article discusses this in more detail.

Antioxidant
Effect of Spinacia oleraceae L. and Perilla frutescens L. on antioxidants and lipid peroxidation in an intervention study in healthy individuals.
Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2010 Mar; Schirrmacher G, Skurk T, Hauner H, Grassmann J. Center of Greenhouses and Laboratories Dürnast, Quality of Vegetal Foodstuff, Life Science Center Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München, Freising, Germany.
Daily consumption of fruits and vegetables is frequently recommended to prevent several diseases. This health-promoting effect is considered to be in part due to the antioxidant content of fruits and vegetables and their ability to decrease oxidative stress. To investigate whether the ingestion of preparations from spinach or perilla, two carotenoid-rich leafy vegetables, is followed by an increase in carotenoid concentration and/or affects parameters of oxidative stress in human blood plasma. 12 healthy volunteers ingested a perilla- or spinach preparation for 10 days (5 mg lutein/d). We quantified antioxidant levels in plasma, kinetics of lipid peroxidation, MDA concentration, and total antioxidative capacity of plasma. We observed a significant increase in lutein content and a moderate increase (n.s.) in beta-carotene content in human blood plasma after consumption of spinach or perilla. The markers of lipid peroxidation tended to decrease, but no influence on antioxidative capacity of plasma could be detected. The high lutein content of perilla caused a more pronounced increase of lutein compared to spinach. Both vegetables seem to be able to influence lipid peroxidation in a beneficial manner.

Lutein benefit for cholesterol
Lutein reduces oxidation of LDL-cholesterol.

Esophageal cancer
Lutein inhibits smitosis and stimulates apoptosis of esophageal EC9706 cells in vitro. The apoptotic effect may result from the down-regulation of expression of Bcl-2 and up-regulation expression of Bax.

Lutein benefit for heart
A meta-analysis of epidemiological studies indicates that high lutein intakes may modestly reduce coronary risk.

Liver cancer
Lutein as a potential agent for liver cancer prevention.

Lutein benefit for macular degeneration
A definite association between lutein and zeaxanthin supplementation and clinical benefit has yet to be shown; however, it may still be an appropriate cautionary measure for patients at high risk for developing age related macular degeneration to supplement with lutein and zeaxathin a few times a week. Lutein supplements need not be taken on a daily basis.

Prostate cancer
Epidemiological and laboratory studies indicate that lutein may be beneficial in reducing the risk for prostate cancer.

Lutein protects agains sun skin damage
Mice given a diet with lutein and zeaxanthin have less damage to their skin when exposed to UVB light.
In ultraviolet radiation exposed fibroblasts, lutein improvesd cell viability, membrane integrity and inhibits elastin expression. Lutein also inhibits matrix metalloproteinases MMP to tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases TIMP ratio in dermal fibroblasts and melanoma cells, inhibits cell loss, reduces membrane damage and elastin expression.