Long-term plant stanol and sterol ester-enriched functional food consumption, serum lutein/zeaxanthin concentration and macular pigment optical density.
Observational epidemiological studies have shown that low carotenoid intake and/or low carotenoid blood levels increase the risk of degenerative diseases like age-related macular degeneration. Functional foods enriched with plant sterol or stanol esters may lower serum concentrations of fat-soluble carotenoids. Theoretically, as a result the macular pigment optical density (MPOD), a marker for eye health, may change. We carried out a double-blind placebo-controlled human intervention trial with a duration of 18 months to evaluate the possible effects of plant stanol and sterol esters on serum lutein/zeaxanthin concentration in relation to the MPOD. Forty-seven subjects were randomly assigned to one of the three treatment groups: margarine without added plant sterols or stanols, plant sterol-enriched margarine, or plant stanol-enriched margarine. Serum cholesterol and lutein/zeaxanthine concentrations and the MPOD were evaluated at baseline and at study end. Changes in lipid-adjusted serum lutein/zeaxanthine concentrations between baseline and study end differed significantly between the three groups (P = 0.001). We found no differences in the MPOD between the three treatment groups, despite the differences in both absolute and cholesterol-standardized serum lutein/zeaxanthine concentrations. This shows that the observed reduction in serum carotenoid concentrations during 18 months consumption of these functional foods does not affect MPOD.
Berendschot
Tos T J M
TT
University Eye Clinic Maastricht, PO Box 5800, NL-6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands. t.berendschot@ohk.unimaas.nl
Plat
Jogchum
J
de Jong
Ariënne
A
Mensink
Ronald P
RP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D014975:Lutein / Q000097:blood; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008383:Margarine; D008875:Middle Aged; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012168:Retinal Pigments / Q000378:metabolism*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult; D065146:Zeaxanthins
D008055:Lipids; D010840:Phytosterols; D012168:Retinal Pigments; D012855:Sitosterols; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; C407042:plant stanol ester; D008383:Margarine; D014975:Lutein