Lutein May Provide 10 Years' Worth of Eye Protection

Daily lutein supplementation may help protect against loss of sight in those with retinitis pigmentosa, according to a four-year study published in the April issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.

The randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study on 225 nonsmoking patients, ages 18 to 60, with retinitis pigmentosa tested the effects of daily supplementation with 12 mg of FloraGLO lutein against placebo. All patients also received 15,000 IU/day of vitamin A. Throughout the study, they were also advised to eat one to two servings of oily fish per week to increase their omega-3 intake.

The researchers reported that all patients showed visual decline during the four years of the study. However, the lutein-supplemented group showed less decline than the placebo group. The researchers said that the overall decline in combined central and midperipheral visual fields was slowest in those with the highest serum lutein levels or the highest increase in macular pigment optical density.

The authors also estimated that supplementing with lutein, combined with the intake of vitamin A and oily fish, could provide three to 10 years’ worth of protection against further loss of sight.

Read more about the study here:

http://archopht.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/128/4/403