title: Dietary lutein and zeaxanthin: possible effects on visual function.
abstract: Of the many carotenoids circulating in human sera, only lutein and zeaxanthin are accumulated throughout the tissues of the eye. Within the eye, they reach their highest concentration in the central retina, where they are clinically referred to as the macula lutea. Lutein and zeaxanthin, more commonly referred to as macular pigments, may serve a variety of roles in the specialized vision of higher primates. This paper reviews recent studies investigating the influence of macular pigments on human visual performance. Such studies have offered insight into why lutein and zeaxanthin are uniquely concentrated in ocular tissues.
authors.affiliation: Vision Science Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens 30602-3013, USA. psychjim@uga.edu
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stringham
authors.forename: Billy R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Hammond
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005123:Eye / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D014975:Lutein / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000517:prevention & control; D009799:Ocular Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene; D014975:Lutein