Monthly consistency of macular pigment optical density and serum concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to assess serial month-to-month consistency of macular pigment (MP) optical density and serum concentrations of lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z). Four healthy subjects aged between 23 and 51 years volunteered to participate in this study.


METHODS
MP optical density (measured psychophysically using heterochromatic flicker photometry [HFP]), and serum concentrations of L and Z (quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography [HPLC]), were recorded every month for 24 consecutive months.


RESULTS
Mean MP optical density (+/-SD) was 0.361 (0.086) and 0.369 (0.074) for right and left eyes, respectively. There was no statistically significant seasonal variation in MP optical density for the group (two-way ANOVA: p>0.05). Serum concentrations of L and Z demonstrated a statistically significant subject-season interaction effect (two-way ANOVA: p<0.01). Serial serum concentrations of L and Z were positively correlated within all four subjects (r=0.370 to 0.786), and significantly so for three subjects (p<0.05). There was no obvious relationship, synchronous or lagged, between serum concentrations of L (or Z) and MP optical density (r=-0.036 to 0.368).


CONCLUSIONS
MP optical density was relatively stable for all subjects over the 24-month period. Fluctuations in serum concentrations of L and Z, in the absence of dietary modification or supplementation, are associated with stable MP optical density.
Nolan
John M
JM
Macular Pigment Research Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Life Sciences, Waterford Institute of Technology, and Department of Ophthalmology, Waterford Regional Hospital, Ireland. jnolan@wit.ie
Stack
Jim
J
Mellerio
John
J
Godhinio
Margery
M
O'Donovan
Orla
O
Neelam
Kumari
K
Beatty
Stephen
S
D000328:Adult; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014975:Lutein / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010783:Photometry; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism*; D012168:Retinal Pigments / Q000378:metabolism*; D012621:Seasons; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood
D012168:Retinal Pigments; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene; D014975:Lutein