title: Regional variation in the levels of macular xanthophylls and carotenoids in dietary components: comparing North and South India.
abstract: Multiple epidemiological studies have emphasized the intake of dark green leafy vegetables rich in xanthophylls in reducing the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Therefore, the present study was undertaken to quantify the levels of major carotenoids in commonly consumed fruits and vegetables of Indian origin and of xanthophylls in the macula of Indian human donor eyes. Fresh fruits (n=20) and vegetables (n=51) collected from two zones of India were tested for the estimation of xanthophyll, lycopene and β-carotene by using HPLC with Photodiode Array Detection. Lutein and zeaxanthin were quantified from macula and in selected vegetables collected from both southern (SI) and northern (NI) regions of India. Xanthophylls, β-carotene and lycopene were found in many affordable vegetables commonly available for consumption in India. Higher content of lutein and zeaxanthin was confirmed in many economical leafy vegetables and fruits. Surprisingly, the mean macular levels of lutein and zeaxanthin of SI donor eyes (n=13) were found to be significantly (p<0.001) four times less than in NI donor eyes (n=15) and the macular levels of Northern India were comparable with reported levels in western populations. The present study showed considerable levels of xanthophylls in many of the commonly consumed fruit and vegetable sources in both parts of India. However, SI donor eyes showed lower levels as compared to NI donors and this warrants further investigation about the bioavailability of xanthophylls in their blood and food intake. The relevance of these findings with prevalence of AMD in South India needs to be explored.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ocular Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. tvelpandian@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Thirumurthy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Velpandian
authors.forename: Beauty
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.forename: Srinivasan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Senthilkumari
authors.forename: Alok Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Ravi
authors.forename: Chandrasekar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gayathri
authors.forename: Rajvardhan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Azad
authors.forename: Supriyo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghose
mesh_terms: D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004032:Diet; D005125:Eye Banks; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000737:chemistry*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry*; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D024341:Xanthophylls; D002338:Carotenoids