Lutein Zeaxanthin research - Health benefit of Lutein and Zeaxanthin carotenoids

Lutein and zeaxanthin are xanthophyll carotenoids with potent antioxidant properties. The pigment in the macula of the eye is composed mostly of lutein and zeaxanthin which is obtained from the diet. Lutein and zeaxanthin play a crucial role in the eye: these two carotenoids accumulate in the retina, where they form the macular pigment, and they are found in the lens. Lutein and zeaxanthin filter out phototoxic blue light and quench singlet oxygen, a free radical.
   Lutein and zeaxanthin are largely transported in plasma by high-density lipoprotein (HDL).

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 protect the retina from damage caused by light or oxidation. This Lutein product is extracted from the marigold flower.

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Lutein Supplement Facts:
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Eyesight Rx with Lutein and Zeaxanthin for Better Vision within days
Developed by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

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Food with high content of lutein and zeaxanthin
Foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin include spinach, kale, turnip greens, collards, mustard greens, squash, green peas, broccoli, pumpkin, and corn.

Lutein and zeaxanthin for macular degeneration
The xanthophyll carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, along with their major metabolites, meso-zeaxanthin, and 3'-oxolutein, are highly concentrated in the human macula. Higher dietary intake of lutein and zeaxanthin decreases the likelihood of having neovascular AMD, retinal atrophy, and large or extensive intermediate drusen. However, not all studies have found that high dietary intake of lutein and zeaxanthin is associated with a reduced risk for macular degeneration.
   Eating yellow and green vegetables may help people aged 60 and older avoid age-related macular degeneration. About 4,500 people aged 60-80 who were screened for age-related macular degeneration. Participants reported how often they had eaten 90 different foods during the past year. Those foods included yellow and green veggies rich in the nutrients lutein and zeaxanthin. Those with the highest self-reported intake of foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin were 35 percent less likely than those with the lowest lutein and zeaxanthin intake to have "wet" age-related macular degeneration. "Wet" age-related macula degeneration involves the growth of abnormal blood vessels beneath the macula. Those blood vessels leak blood and fluid, disrupting vision. The study doesn't prove that lutein and zeaxanthin prevent age-related macular degeneration.

Prospective study of lutein/zeaxanthin intake and risk of age-related macular degeneration 1,2,3
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 87, No. 6, 1837-1843, June 2008. Eunyoung Cho, Susan E Hankinson, Bernard Rosner, Walter C Willett and Graham A Colditz/ 1 From the Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (EC, SEH, BR, WCW); the Departments of Epidemiology (SEH, BR, WCW), Biostatistics (BR), and Nutrition (EC and WCW), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA; and the Department of Surgery and Alvin J Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO (GAC)
 The association between lutein  zeaxanthin intake and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) risk may differ by smoking status, vitamin C and E intakes, and body fatness. The objective was to evaluate the association between lutein zeaxanthin intake and AMD risk by smoking status, intake of antioxidant vitamins, and body fatness. We conducted a prospective follow-up study of 71 494 women and 41 564 men aged ≥50 y and had no diagnosis of AMD or cancer. During up to 18 y of follow-up, we documented 673 incident cases of early AMD and 442 incident cases of neovascular AMD with a visual loss of 20/30 or worse due primarily to AMD. Lutein zeaxanthin intake was not associated with the risk of self-reported early AMD. There was a statistically nonsignificant and nonlinear inverse association between lutein zeaxanthin intake and neovascular AMD risk. For early AMD, the association with lutein zeaxanthin intake did not vary by smoking status, intakes of vitamins C and E, or body mass index. For neovascular AMD, a nonlinear inverse association was found among never smokers. These data do not support a protective role of lutein zeaxanthin intake on risk of self-reported early AMD. The suggestion of inverse associations related to the risk of neovascular AMD needs to be examined further.

Lutein supplement use and pigment density in the retina
The use of a zeaxanthin and lutein supplement leads to an increase in macular pigment optical density. In one study three subjects consumed 30 mg of lutein and 2.7 mg of zeaxanthin supplement each day for 120 days. At the two most central loci, macular pigment optical density significantly increased in all three subjects with the zeaxanthin and lutein supplement use.

Lutein and zeaxanthin for skin
Mice given a diet with lutein and zeaxanthin have less damage to their skin when exposed to UVB-induced photoaging and photocarcinogenesis.

Lutein and zeaxanthin carotenoids in eye
Lutein and zeaxanthin are the main carotenoids in eye tissue, but there are several other carotenoids that are found in the human eye. However, astaxanthin has never been isolated from the human eye, but its chemical structure is very close to that of lutein and zeaxanthin.

Lutein and zeaxanthin supplements reduce glare in healthy, young adults
Lutein and zeaxanthin carotenoid pigments boost vision in seemingly healthy eyes. Researchers from the Vision Science Laboratory at the University of Georgia, Athens, recruited 40 healthy subjects with an average age of 24 and assigned them to receive daily supplements of lutein 10mg and Zeaxanthin 2 mg for 6 months. The researchers observed the effects of glare as encountered in daily situations ranging from being outside on bright, sunny days, to prolonged periods looking at computer monitors, and nighttime exposure to the beam of oncoming headlights, on the participant's eyes. Macular pigment optical density, an indicator of the eye's ability to filter short wave light, was measured and increased from an average value of 0.41 at the start of the study, to 0.57 after six months of supplementation. Volunteers were also assessed for performance in visual tasks following exposure to glare before and after the supplementation period. There was a significant correlation between lutein and xeaxanthin supplementation and improved visual performance under glare conditions.

Lutein zeaxanthin raw material
November 2007 - Cognis Nutrition and Health is launching its new Super Xangold, with a 5 to 1 ratio of lutein esters and zeaxanthin esters. This is the identical ratio of ingredients being used in the landmark Age Related Eye Disease Study II (AREDS II). Super Xangold is a proprietary blend of natural lutein esters and zeaxanthin esters. The macular pigment is made up almost entirely of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin and is located at the center of the retina, at the site of highest visual acuity.

Lutein zeaxanthin questions
Q. Can you please tell me the quantity of lutein and zeaxanthin in the Eyesight Rx formula?
   A. Eyesight Rx is a proprietary blend and we are not allowed to reveal the dosages of lutein, zeaxanthin, or the other herbs. Many companies copy formulations made by Dr. Sahelian and for this reason it is kept a proprietary blend.

Q. I would like to add Eyesight Rx to my regular use of supplements. I have age related macular degeneration. I take 10 mg of lutein plus zeaxanthin 400µg and most of the AREDS formula on a daily basis. If I am to add Eyesight Rx, then I will need to know the amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin in the formula plus anything that would influence the AREDS formula.
   A. We cannot divulge the amounts of lutein, zeaxanthin or other herbs and nutrients in this eyesight formula, but we can say that on the days that you take Eyesight Rx, you would not need to take the other supplements for eyesight improvement. We suggest using Eyesight Rx only three times a week, and on the other days your other eyesight supplements can be taken.

Q. Which supplement is more specific to the eye, astaxanthin or zeaxanthin?
   A. Zeaxanthin is found in much higher amounts in the retina than most other carotenoids except for lutein. See zeaxanthin astaxanthin for more information.

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