Oral supplementation of lutein/zeaxanthin and omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in persons aged 60 years and older, with and without age-related macular degeneration
Lynn L. Huang 1,
Hanna R. Coleman 2,
Jonghyeon Kim 3,
Francisco de Monasterio 1,
Wai T Wong 1,
Rosemary L. Schleicher 4,
Frederick L Ferris 1,
and
Emily Y. Chew 1*
1 Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Research, National Eye Institute/National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
2 National Eye Institute/NIH, Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
3 EMMES Corporation, Rockville, Maryland, United States
4 Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Bethesda, Maryland, United States
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: echew{at}nei.nih.gov.
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Abstract |
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Background: Increased dietary intake of lutein/zeaxanthin; and omega long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (
-3 LCPUFA) was found to be associated with reduced risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Objectives: To examine the effect of oral supplementation of -3 LCPUFA on changes in serum levels of lutein/zeaxanthin when supplementing with lutein/zeaxanthin in persons aged 60 years and older, with or without AMD.
Design: Forty participants with varying severity of AMD received lutein (10 mg) and zeaxanthin (2 mg) daily and were equally randomized to receive -3 LCPUFA (350 mg docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and 650 mg eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)) or placebo for 6 months. Serum levels of lutein, zeaxanthin, and -3 LCPUFAs, and macular pigment optical densities were measured at baseline, 1 week and months 1, 3, 6 and 9.
Results: By month 6, the median serum levels of lutein/zeaxanthin increased by 2 to 3 fold compared with baseline. Increases in serum levels of lutein/zeaxanthin did not differ by -3 LCPUFA treatment (Ps > 0.5). After 1 month, in the -3 LCPUFA treated group, the median levels of DHA and EPA increased and the placebo group had no changes. At month 6, participants with AMD had serum lutein concentration lower than those without AMD (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: The addition of -3 LCPUFA to oral supplementation of lutein/zeaxanthin did not change the serum levels of lutein and zeaxanthin. A long-term large clinical trial is necessary to investigate the benefits and adverse effects of these factors for the treatment of AMD.
Key Words:
age-related macular degeneration, lutein/zeaxanthin, omega-3 fatty acids
