Nutritional manipulation of primate retinas, V: effects of lutein, zeaxanthin, and n-3 fatty acids on retinal sensitivity to blue-light-induced damage.
OBJECTIVE
Blue-light photooxidative damage has been implicated in the etiology of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The macular pigment xanthophylls lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) and n-3 fatty acids may reduce this damage and lower the risk of AMD. This study investigated the effects of the lifelong absence of xanthophylls followed by L or Z supplementation, combined with the effects of n-3 fatty acid deficiency, on acute blue-light photochemical damage.


METHODS
Subjects included eight rhesus monkeys with no lifelong intake of xanthophylls and no detectable macular pigment. Of these, four had low n-3 fatty acid intake and four had adequate intakes. Control subjects had typical L, Z, and n-3 fatty acid intake. Retinas received 150-μm-diameter exposures of low-power 476-nm laser light at 0.5 mm (∼2°) eccentricity, which is adjacent to the macular pigment peak, and parafoveally at 1.5 mm (∼6°). Exposures of xanthophyll-free animals were repeated after supplementation with pure L or Z for 22 to 28 weeks. Ophthalmoscopically visible lesion areas were plotted as a function of exposure energy, with greater slopes of the regression lines indicating greater sensitivity to damage.


RESULTS
In control animals, the fovea was less sensitive to blue-light-induced damage than the parafovea. Foveal protection was absent in xanthophyll-free animals but was evident after supplementation. In the parafovea, animals low in n-3 fatty acids showed greater sensitivity to damage than animals with adequate levels.


CONCLUSIONS
After long-term xanthophyll deficiency, L or Z supplementation protected the fovea from blue light-induced damage, whereas adequate n-3 fatty acid levels reduced the damage in the parafovea.
Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Salus University, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, USA.
Felix M
FM
Barker
D Max
DM
Snodderly
Elizabeth J
EJ
Johnson
Wolfgang
W
Schalch
Wolfgang
W
Koepcke
Joachim
J
Gerss
Martha
M
Neuringer
D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D005584:Fovea Centralis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014975:Lutein / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000172:deficiency; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000172:deficiency; D065146:Zeaxanthins
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D014975:Lutein
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