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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2015:2015:564738.
doi: 10.1155/2015/564738. Epub 2015 Mar 1.

Effect of supplemental lutein and zeaxanthin on serum, macular pigmentation, and visual performance in patients with early age-related macular degeneration

Yang-Mu Huang  1 , Hong-Liang Dou  2 , Fei-Fei Huang  1 , Xian-Rong Xu  1 , Zhi-Yong Zou  1 , Xiao-Ming Lin  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effect of supplemental lutein and zeaxanthin on serum, macular pigmentation, and visual performance in patients with early age-related macular degeneration

Yang-Mu Huang et al. Biomed Res Int. 2015.

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the 2-year effect of multiple doses of lutein/zeaxanthin on serum, macular pigmentation, and visual performance on patients with early age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: In this randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled trial, 112 early AMD patients randomly received either 10 mg lutein, 20 mg lutein, a combination of lutein (10 mg) and zeaxanthin (10 mg), or placebo daily for 2 years. Serum concentration of lutein/zeaxanthin, macular pigment optical density (MPOD), visual functions including best-spectacle corrected visual acuity (BCVA), contrast sensitivity (CS), flash recovery time (FRT), and vision-related quality of life (VFQ25) was quantified.

Results: Serum lutein concentration and MPOD significantly increased in all the active treatment groups. Supplementation with 20 mg lutein was the most effective in increasing MPOD and CS at 3 cycles/degree for the first 48 weeks. However, they both significantly increased to the same peak value following supplementation with either 10 mg or 20 mg lutein during the intervention. No statistical changes of BCVA or FRT were observed during the trial.

Conclusions: Long-term lutein supplementation could increase serum lutein concentration, MPOD, and visual sensitivities of early AMD patients. 10 mg lutein daily might be an advisable long-term dosage for early AMD treatment.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Changes in serum lutein concentration (a) and macular pigment optical density (b) at baseline, 24 weeks, 48 weeks, and 2 years in patients with early age-related macular degeneration, treated with 10 mg/d lutein, 20 mg/d lutein, lutein (10 mg/d) + zeaxanthin (10 mg/d), or placebo. Values are expressed as group mean ± SEMs. Significant increase was observed in all non-placebo groups compared to that of baseline or placebo group (all P < 0.05, paired t-test). Significant time and treatment effects were observed in serum lutein concentration, P < 0.001 (repeated-measures ANOVA), whereas only significant time effect was seen in MPOD, P < 0.001 (repeated-measures ANOVA).
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