Profiles of macular pigment optical density and their changes following supplemental lutein and zeaxanthin: new results from the LUNA study

Abstract

Purpose: Based on latest analyses disclosing an inverse association between ring-like structures in macular pigment (MP) spatial profile and age-related macular degeneration, we performed additional analyses of MP measurements obtained in participants of our earlier lutein nutrition effects measured by autoflourescence (LUNA) study to disclose if oral lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) can attenuate, amplify, or generate a ring structure.

Methods: A total of 97 subjects attended the last follow-up visit 3 months after discontinuation of a 6-month trial of 12 mg L and 1 mg Z supplementation. Of the subjects, 11 eyes had a secondary peak (ring-like structure) and 8 had an implied pericentral plateau/shoulder on the slope of MP density profile (intermediate distribution).

Results: L and Z intake led to a general shift toward higher MP values in eyes without ring structure. The difference between mean optical density of retinal MP (Diff MPOD) at last follow-up and baseline was +0.16 density units (D.U.) at 0° eccentricity. Increments at 0.25°, 0.5°, 1°, and 2° (all P < 0.0001) decayed exponentially with higher eccentricity. MPOD showed comparatively slight central changes in eyes with ring and intermediate distribution (diff_MPOD at 0° +0.03 and +0.09), and increased at minimum (+0.06, P = 0.01) and maximum (+0.07, P = 0.02) of the ring, and at inner (+0.07, P = 0.04) and outer (+0.09, P = 0.01) radius of the pericentral "shoulder."

Conclusions: Ring structures were neither attenuated nor generated de novo following supplementation. Individuals with second peak/implied plateau in the slope of the profile appear to have the most effective retinal stabilization of L and Z located at a pericentral rather than the central location.