title: Effects of lutein and docosahexaenoic Acid supplementation on macular pigment optical density in a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: We studied the macular pigment ocular density (MPOD) in patients with early age macular degeneration (AMD) before and 1 year after nutritional supplementation with lutein and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Forty-four patients with AMD were randomly divided into two groups that received placebo (n = 21) or a nutritional supplement (n = 23, 12 mg of lutein and  280 mg of DHA daily). Heterochromatic flicker photometry was used to determine the MPOD. At baseline, the MPOD in AMD patients with placebo was 0.286 ± 0.017 meanwhile in AMD patients with supplementation it was 0.291 ± 0.016. One year later, the mean MPOD had increased by 0.059 in the placebo group and by 0.162 in patients receiving lutein and DHA. This difference between groups was significant (p < 0.05). Lutein and DHA supplementation is effective in increasing the MPOD and may aid in prevention of age related macular degeneration.
authors: Ophthalmology Department, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. aglayana@unav.es
authors: Alfredo
authors: A
authors: García-Layana
authors: Sergio
authors: S
authors: Recalde
authors: Angel Salinas
authors: AS
authors: Alamán
authors: Patricia Fernández
authors: PF
authors: Robredo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014975:Lutein / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D010783:Photometry; D010919:Placebos; D012168:Retinal Pigments; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D012168:Retinal Pigments; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D014975:Lutein