Association between lutein and zeaxanthin status and the risk of cataract: a meta-analysis.
The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the relationship between blood lutein and zeaxanthin concentration and the risk of age-related cataract (ARC). MEDLINE, EMBASE, ISI and Cochrane Library were searched to identify relevant studies up to April 2013. Meta-analysis was conducted to obtain pooled relative risks (RRs) for the highest-versus-lowest categories of blood lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations. One cohort study and seven cross-sectional studies were included in the meta-analysis. There were significant inverse associations between nuclear cataract and blood lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations, with the pooled RRs ranging from 0.63 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.49, 0.77) for zeaxanthin to 0.73 (95% CI: 0.59, 0.87) for lutein. A stronger association between nuclear cataract and blood zeaxanthin might be noted for the studies conducted in the European Nations. Blood lutein and zeaxanthin were also noted to lead towards a decrease in the risk of cortical cataract and subcapsular cataract; however, these pooled RRs were not statistically significant, with the exception of a marginal association between lutein and subcapsular cataract. Our results suggest that high blood lutein and zeaxanthin are significantly associated with a decrease in the risk of nuclear cataract. However, no significant associations were found for ARC in other regions of the lens.
The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Medicine, 277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an 710061, China. liuxiaoh@mail.xjtu.edu.cn.
Xiao-Hong
XH
Liu
School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Medicine, 76 Yanta West Road, Xi'an 710061, China. bloodwings198927@stu.xjtu.edu.cn.
Rong-Bin
RB
Yu
School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Medicine, 76 Yanta West Road, Xi'an 710061, China. Liu.rong@stu.xjtu.edu.cn.
Rong
R
Liu
School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Medicine, 76 Yanta West Road, Xi'an 710061, China. hzxrjm@163.com.
Zhen-Xuan
ZX
Hao
School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Medicine, 76 Yanta West Road, Xi'an 710061, China. hcc.89720@stu.xjtu.edu.cn.
Cheng-Cheng
CC
Han
School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Medicine, 76 Yanta West Road, Xi'an 710061, China. zhuhai.47344250@stu.xjtu.edu.cn.
Zhong-Hai
ZH
Zhu
School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Medicine, 76 Yanta West Road, Xi'an 710061, China. male@mail.xjtu.edu.cn.
Le
L
Ma
D002386:Cataract / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D014975:Lutein / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D065146:Zeaxanthins
D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D014975:Lutein