Increased Macular Pigment Optical Density and Visual Acuity following Consumption of a Buttermilk Drink Containing Lutein-Enriched Egg Yolks: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Abstract

Purpose. To study the effect of 1-year daily consumption of a dairy drink containing lutein-enriched egg yolks on macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and visual function parameters in elderly subjects with ocular drusen and/or retinal pigment abnormalities. Methods. One hundred and one subjects were recruited to participate in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel intervention trial. Statistical analyses were performed with 46 subjects in the lutein group and 43 in the control group. MPOD, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA, logMAR), and dark adaptation were measured at the start of the study, after 6 months and after 12 months. Plasma lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations were assessed at baseline and at the end of the study. Results. In the lutein group, plasma lutein concentrations increased significantly from 205 ng/mL at baseline to 399 ng/mL after twelve months of intervention. MPOD increased significantly from 0.45 to 0.52 and BCVA improved significantly from −0.04 to −0.09 LogMar. Differences in rod dark adaptation rate between both groups were not significant. Conclusion. Daily consumption of a dairy drink containing lutein-enriched egg yolks for one year improves visual acuity, MPOD, and plasma lutein concentration in elderly subjects with drusen and/or retinal pigment epithelial abnormalities.

Local Abundance of Macular Xanthophyll Pigment Is Associated with Rod- and Cone-Mediated Vision in Aging and Age-Related Macular Degeneration

“…Low values of MPOD at the RMDA test location in our study suggest that light filtration is not a major factor. Other investigators reported both positive 5 and negative 27,31 associations of MPOD regarding aspects of rod-mediated visual tasks distinct from retinoid-limited RMDA used in this study. As mentioned above, an association of delayed RMDA with low MPOD measured with HFP at fixation was found with a small sample and under non-standard stimulus conditions.…”

“…A positive association of foveal MPOD with BCVA builds on prior research in which tissue-level MPOD was assessed with HFP 6,24,30,31,63,64 and other techniques. 65,66 In younger adults with normal maculas, BCVA is modestly associated with higher MPOD 24 and has been shown to improve 6 to 12 months after supplementation in some studies 6,31,63 but not in others. 30,64 In eyes with variably defined AMD, BCVA improved with supplementation in relation to MPOD in some studies [65][66][67] but not in others.…”

The Age-Related Eye Disease 2 Study: Micronutrients in the Treatment of Macular Degeneration

“…The AREDS2 formulation with 10 mg lutein/d and 2 mg zeaxanthin/d is now the standard of care for reducing the probability of advanced AMD in patients with substantial risk factors for progression to severe visual loss, and there is even some evidence that subjects receiving AREDS2-type supplements could have stabilization and improvement of best-corrected visual acuity (151,152). However, the AREDS2 failed to show that fish oil supplements had any benefits, and the b-carotene of the original AREDS formula is no longer generally recommended because of potential lung cancer risks.…”

Effect of Long-Term Xanthophyll and Anthocyanin Supplementation on Lutein and Zeaxanthin Serum Concentrations and Macular Pigment Optical Density in Postmenopausal Women

“…This was reported in subjects with retinal pigment abnormalities and/or drusen who consumed a lutein-enriched egg drink daily for twelve months. However, this was not found after consumption for 6 months [ 61 ] or 3 months [ 62 ]. With this lutein-enriched egg drink, there was simultaneous supply of docosahexanoic acid that facilitated the incorporation of lutein in the MP.…”