Do lutein, zeaxanthin, and macular pigment optical density differ with age or age-related maculopathy?

Emma Berrow, Hannah Bartlett Eperjesi, Frank Eperjesi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background and aims
Current age-related macular disease (ARMD) treatment includes antioxidant supplementation. Lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) are antioxidants that make up macularpigment within the retina and may reduce the risk of developing ARMD. Ageing and smoking are leading risk factors for developing ARMD. We investigated differences in dietary, supplemental and retinal L and Z, and smoking habits in healthy younger eyes (HY), healthy older eyes (HO) and eyes with an early form of ARMD called age-related maculopathy (ARM).

Methods
HO, HY and ARM groups were assessed for dietary intakes of L and Z using food diaries. Smoking habits and self-administered quantities of L and Z were obtained via questionnaire. Retinal L and Z levels (macularpigmentopticaldensity, or MPOD) were determined using heterochromatic flicker photometry.

Results
No significant difference was demonstrated for dietary L and Z intake (?2 = 4.983, p = 0.083) or for MPOD between groups (F = 0.40, p = 0.67). There was a significant difference between the HY (mean ± sd: 1.20 ± 2.99), HO (4.51 ± 7.05) ARM groups (9.15 ± 12.28) for pack years smoked (?2 = 11.61, p = 0.03).

Conclusions
Our results do not support the theory that ARM develops as a result of L and Z deficiency. Higher pack years smoked may be a factor in disease development. Dietary and supplementary L and Z levels must be obtained when assessing MPOD between groups or over time.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)e197-e201
Number of pages5
Journale-SPEN
Volume6
Issue number4
Early online date21 Jun 2011
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2011

Bibliographical note

NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in e-SPEN. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Berrow, E, Bartlett Eperjesi, H & Eperjesi, F, 'Do lutein, zeaxanthin, and macular pigment optical density differ with age or age-related maculopathy?', e-SPEN, vol 6, no. 4 DOI (2011) http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eclnm.2011.05.003

Keywords

  • macular
  • lutein
  • age-related macular disease
  • MPOD
  • macular pigment

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