Macular Carotenoids Improve Photo Stress Recovery, Glare Performance, Study Suggests

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New study results shared by Omniactive Health Technologies (Morristown, NJ) suggests its Lutemax 2020 marigold extract, which contains the macular carotenoids lutein, zeaxanthin, and mesozeaxanthin, may significantly increase macular pigment optical density (MPOD), photo stress recovery, and disability glare performance.  The results come from the second in the LAMA group of studies, LAMA II, which is short for “lutein, vision, and mental acuity.” The previous study in the series, LAMA I, suggested the ingredient may improve other parameters of visual performance, such as eliciting a rapid retinal response.

Writing in Eye and Vision, researchers studied 59 healthy young adults with a mean age of 21.7 as part of the double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. For 12 months, subjects supplemented their daily diet with one of three administrations: 10 mg of lutein, 1 mg of zeaxanthin, and 1 mg of mesozeaxanthin; 20 mg of lutein, 2 mg of zeaxanthin, and 2 mg of mesozeaxanthin; or a placebo.

At baseline, six months after beginning treatment, and twelve months after beginning treatment, researchers assessed MPOD with customized heterochromatic flicker photometry. At the same times, they also assessed photo stress recovery based on subjects’ ability to detect a Gabor patch target following five successive exposures to intense LED lights. Disability glare performance was also established based on the intensity of a ring of lights through which subjects were still able to maintain visibility of the target.

Researchers found that subjects in both dosage groups of Lutemax 2020 experienced significant increased to MPOD, photo stress recovery, and disability glare performance at 6 months compared to placebo, with additional improvements found at 12 months. They suggested that the mechanism for the observed effect “may involve both the optical filtering and the biochemical (antioxidant) properties” of Lutemax 2020.

“We are delighted that long-term studies like LAMA-II demonstrate the practical benefits of macular carotenoid supplementation for general healthy populations using well-recognized methods and meaningful measures of visual performance,” says Abhijit Bhattacharya, president of Omniactive Health Technologies, in the study announcement.

Read more:

Lutein and Zeaxanthin Elicit “Rapid Retinal Response,” Study Suggests

Fierce Debate over Zeaxanthin Isomers

Lycopene, Lutein May Defend Skin Against UV Radiation

Michael Crane
Associate Editor
Nutritional Outlook Magazine
michael.crane@ubm.com

References:

Stringham JM et al., “Macular carotenoid supplementation improves disability glare performance and dynamics of photostress recovery,” Eye and Vision. Published online November 11, 2016.