Effect of dietary lutein and zeaxanthin on plasma carotenoids and their transport in lipoproteins in age-related macular degeneration.
BACKGROUND
Low dietary intakes and low plasma concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin are associated with an increased risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). No studies have challenged AMD patients with a diet high in lutein and zeaxanthin.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to examine the effect of diets low or high in lutein and zeaxanthin on plasma carotenoids and their transport in AMD patients.


METHODS
Seven AMD patients and 5 control subjects were fed a low-lutein, low-zeaxanthin diet ( approximately 1.1 mg/d) for 2 wk, which was followed by a high-lutein, high-zeaxanthin diet ( approximately 11 mg/d) for 4 wk. Ten subjects continued the diet for 8 wk. Plasma and lipoprotein carotenoids were measured by HPLC.


RESULTS
The high-lutein, high-zeaxanthin diet resulted in 2- to 3-fold increases in plasma concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin and other carotenoids, except lycopene, in the AMD patients and the control subjects. With this diet, 52% of the lutein and 44% of the zeaxanthin were transported by HDL; approximately 22% of lutein and zeaxanthin was transported by LDL. Only 20-25% of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and lycopene was transported by HDL; 50-57% was transported by LDL.


CONCLUSIONS
The AMD patients and control subjects responded similarly to a diet high in lutein and zeaxanthin; plasma carotenoid concentrations increased greatly in both groups, and the transport of carotenoids by lipoproteins was not significantly different between the groups. This finding suggests that abnormalities in the metabolism of lutein and zeaxanthin in AMD may reside in the uptake of lutein and zeaxanthin from the plasma and transport into the retina.
Wang
Wei
W
Department of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239-3098, USA. wangwe@ohsu.edu
Connor
Sonja L
SL
Johnson
Elizabeth J
EJ
Klein
Michael L
ML
Hughes
Shannon
S
Connor
William E
WE
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001692:Biological Transport; D001835:Body Weight; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood*; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D014975:Lutein / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy; D008297:Male; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D065146:Zeaxanthins
D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D002338:Carotenoids; D014975:Lutein