The Relationship Between Plasma Concentrations of Lutein and Zeaxanthin with Self-Reported and Actual Prevalence of AMD in an Irish Population-Based Sample

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate plasma lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) concentrations with grading-confirmed and self-reported prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Material and methods: Data collected from a nationally representative prospective cohort study of community-dwelling adults aged 50 years and over in the Republic of Ireland. Participants underwent a computer-assisted personal interview and a center-based health assessment. Plasma concentrations of L and total Z (Z and meso-zeaxanthin [MZ]) were measured by high performance liquid chromatography, and retinal photographs were graded using a version of the AMD International Classification and Grading System. Consumption of supplements containing L and/or Z and/or MZ was recorded as supplement use. Four groups were identified: Group 1 (n = 24): AMD-afflicted and correctly aware; Group 2 (n = 264): AMD-afflicted but unaware; Group 3 (n = 41): AMD-free and incorrectly believed that they were afflicted with the condition; Group 4 (n = 4094): AMD-free and correctly self-reported absence of AMD. Results: Of 4,423 participants with plasma concentrations of L and Z and gradable retinal photographs, 288 (6.5%) were afflicted with AMD, and 65 (1.5%) self-reported AMD. Controlling for family history and age, the relationship between grading-confirmed AMD and plasma L was positive and significant (p < 0.001). Mean plasma concentrations of L in Group 2 (mean = 0.2162 ± 0.132 µmol) and Group 4 (mean = 0.2040 ± 0.121 µmol/L) were significantly lower than Group 1 (mean = 0.4691 ± 0.0.372 µmol/L) and Group 3 (mean = 0.3176 ± 0.0.235 µmol/L). Supplement use was reported by 41.7% and 17.1% of participants in Groups 1 and 3, respectively, but only 2.7% and 1.9% of participants in Groups 2 and 4, respectively. Conclusion: A belief that one suffers from AMD, whether justified or not, is associated with supplement use and with higher plasma concentrations of L. ARTICLE HISTORY

Lutein and the Aging Eye

“…The research performed by Delcourt et al [49] has further confirmed that AMD was significantly related with plasma lutein and zeaxanthin and tended to be associated with plasma lutein. A recent study carried out in an Irish population-based sample was in accord with the results discussed above, presenting a lower plasma concentration of lutein in AMD patients no matter whether they were aware of their suffering from AMD or not [50].…”

Partial Mitigation of Oxidized Phospholipid-Mediated Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Neuronal Cells by Oxocarotenoids

“…Plasma concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin have been reported to be 0.3 and 0.1µM respectively [21]. Following up from our previous observations, we treated cells with lutein (0.1 and 1µM) and zeaxanthin (0.05, 0.5 and 5µM) in agreement with Wagener et al [22].…”

Comparative Analysis of Culture Conditions for the Optimization of Carotenoid Production in Several Strains of the Picoeukaryote Ostreococcus

“…Molecules derived from β-carotene, like lutein and violaxanthin, have anti-inflammatory properties [ 9 ]. Lutein is also used in eye therapies; in particular to treat age-related macular degeneration [ 10 ]. Although carotenoid activities rely mainly on their antioxidant properties, the diversity of their chemical structures, with more than 700 reported molecules, opens a vast field of investigation and potential applications for these molecules.…”