title: Improvement of retinal function in early age-related macular degeneration after lutein and zeaxanthin supplementation: a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effects of lutein and zeaxanthin supplementation on retinal function using multifocal electroretinograms (mfERG) in patients with early age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred eight subjects with early AMD were randomly assigned to receive 10 mg/d lutein (n = 27), 20 mg/d lutein (n = 27), 10 mg/d lutein plus 10 mg/d zeaxanthin (n = 27), or placebo (n = 27) for 48 weeks. Thirty-six age-matched controls without AMD were also enrolled to compare baseline data with early AMD patients. MfERG responses and macular pigment optical densities (MPODs) were recorded and analyzed at baseline and at 24 and 48 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant reductions in N1P1 response densities in ring 1 to ring 3 in early AMD patients compared with the controls (P < .05), whereas neither N1P1 response densities in ring 4 to ring 6 nor P1 peak latencies significantly changed. After 48-week supplementation, the N1P1 response densities showed significant increases in ring 1 for the 20 mg lutein group and for the lutein and zeaxanthin group, and in ring 2 for the 20 mg lutein group. The increases in MPOD related positively to the increases in N1P1 response density in ring 1 and ring 2 for nearly all active treatment groups. N1P1 response densities in ring 3 to ring 6 or P1 peak latencies in all rings did not change significantly in any group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early functional abnormalities of the central retina in the early AMD patients could be improved by lutein and zeaxanthin supplementation. These improvements may be potentially attributed to the elevations in MPOD.
authors: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, PR China.
authors: Le
authors: L
authors: Ma
authors: Hong-Liang
authors: HL
authors: Dou
authors: Yang-Mu
authors: YM
authors: Huang
authors: Xin-Rong
authors: XR
authors: Lu
authors: Xian-Rong
authors: XR
authors: Xu
authors: Fang
authors: F
authors: Qian
authors: Zhi-Yong
authors: ZY
authors: Zou
authors: Hong-Lei
authors: HL
authors: Pang
authors: Peng-Cheng
authors: PC
authors: Dong
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: Xiao
authors: Xun
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: Ting-Ting
authors: TT
authors: Sun
authors: Xiao-Ming
authors: XM
authors: Lin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003720:Densitometry; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014975:Lutein / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D065146:Zeaxanthins
chemical_list: D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D014975:Lutein