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Macular response to supplementation with differing xanthophyll formulations in subjects with and without age-related macular degeneration

  • Retinal Disorders
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

Our aim was to investigate the macular response to three different supplements containing lutein (L), zeaxanthin (Z) and meso-zeaxanthin (MZ) in normal subjects and those with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Materials and Methods

Macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and serum xanthophyll concentrations were measured in normal (n = 31) and AMD subjects (n = 32), randomly assigned to: group 1 (20 mg L, 2 mg Z, 0.3 mg MZ), group 2 (10 mg L, 2 mg Z, 10 mg MZ) or group 3 (3 mg L, 2 mg Z, 17 mg MZ). MPOD was measured at baseline, 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks and at 0.25°, 0.5°, 1.0° and 1.75° of eccentricity using customised heterochromatic flicker photometry and serum xanthophylls by HPLC.

Results

MPOD increased significantly at all eccentricities in each group (p < 0.05), except at 1.75° in group 3 (p = 0.242). There was no difference in MPOD measurements between AMD and normal subjects, except for group 2, where AMD subjects exhibited a greater response at 1.75° (p = 0.012). Final serum concentrations of MZ were positively and significantly related to final MPOD values at each eccentricity in all subjects. Targeted analysis of those subjects receiving the MZ-containing supplements exhibited stronger relationships between serum MZ concentrations and MPOD at 0.25° in group 3 than group 2; in group 2 all associations were positive, but only significant at 1.75°.

Conclusions

Serum concentrations of MZ were strongly correlated with MPOD after 8 weeks of supplementation with the group 3 formulation, but the inclusion of L in the group 2 formulation may result in greater MPOD augmentation across the spatial profile.

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Abbreviations

AMD:

Age-related macular degeneration

L:

Lutein

Z:

Zeaxanthin

MZ:

Meso-zeaxanthin

MPOD:

Macular pigment optical density

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge financial support given by the Howard Foundation, Cambridge UK. The authors also acknowledge Professor Ronald Klein and his team at the Fundus Photography Reading Center, University of Wisconsin, USA, for grading the fundus images. The authors are grateful to Ms Katie A. Meagher, who analysed the serum carotenoids and assisted in drafting the manuscript, and to Dr J Stack, who assisted with the statistical analysis. D. I. T. drafted the final manuscript, helped with data interpretation and statistical analysis. S. B. helped to draft the manuscript and interpret the data. A. N. H. helped with the design of the trial and to draft the manuscript. J. M. N. designed and supervised the study, helped with data interpretation and statistical analysis, and helped to draft the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Declarations of Interest

J. M. N. and S. B. do consultancy work for nutraceutical companies, in a personal capacity, and as directors of Nutrasight Consultancy Ltd. D. I. T. is a consultant to the Howard Foundation and receives consulting fees for same. A. N. H., D. I. T., S. B. and J. M. N. are named inventors on a patent application for “Improvements in or relating to visual performance and/or macular pigmentation”, application number: PCT/GB2012/051567 held by the Howard Foundation, which is a UK charity established to support biomedical research.

Grant Information

This clinical trial was funded by the Howard Foundation, Cambridge, UK

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), University of Ulster, Coleraine, UK

    David I. Thurnham

  2. Macular Pigment Research Group, Department of Chemical and Life Sciences, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland

    John M. Nolan

  3. Howard Foundation, Cambridge, UK

    Alan N. Howard

  4. Downing College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Alan N. Howard

  5. Institute of Vision research, Whitfield Clinic, Waterford, Ireland

    Stephen Beatty

Authors
  1. David I. Thurnham
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  2. John M. Nolan
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  4. Stephen Beatty
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Correspondence to David I. Thurnham.

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Thurnham, D.I., Nolan, J.M., Howard, A.N. et al. Macular response to supplementation with differing xanthophyll formulations in subjects with and without age-related macular degeneration. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 253, 1231–1243 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-014-2811-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-014-2811-3

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