title: Supplementation with three different macular carotenoid formulations in patients with early age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the impact of three different macular carotenoid formulations on macular pigment optical density and visual performance in subjects with early age-related macular degeneration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two subjects were supplemented and followed for 12 months, 17 of them were in intervention Group 1 (20 mg/day lutein and 2 mg/day zeaxanthin); 21 in Group 2 (10 mg/day meso-zeaxanthin, 10 mg/day lutein, and 2 mg/day zeaxanthin); and 14 in Group 3 (17 mg/day meso-zeaxanthin, 3 mg/day lutein, and 2 mg/day zeaxanthin). The macular pigment optical density was measured using customized heterochromatic flicker photometry, and visual function was assessed using corrected distance visual acuity and by letter contrast sensitivity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A statistically significant increase in the macular pigment optical density was observed at all measured eccentricities in Group 2 (P ≤ 0.005) and in Group 3 (P < 0.05, for all), but only at 1.75° in Group 1 (P = 0.018). Statistically significant (P < 0.05) improvements in letter contrast sensitivity were seen at all spatial frequencies (except 1.2 cycles per degree) in Group 3, and at low spatial frequencies in Groups 1 and 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Augmentation of the macular pigment optical density across its spatial profile and enhancements in contrast sensitivity were best achieved after supplementation with a formulation containing high doses of meso-zeaxanthin in combination with lutein and zeaxanthin.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Optometry, School of Physics, Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin, Ireland; †Macular Pigment Research Group, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland; ‡Institute of Eye Surgery and Institute of Vision Research, Whitfield Clinic, Waterford, Ireland; §African Vision Research Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; ¶Howard Foundation, Cambridge, United Kingdom; and **Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabour-Pickett
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beatty
authors.forename: Eithne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Loughman
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stack
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Barbara E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Stacy M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Meuer
authors.forename: Chelsea E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: Kwadwo O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Akuffo
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nolan
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000187:drug effects*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014975:Lutein / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D065348:Macular Pigment / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D010783:Photometry; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects*; D065146:Zeaxanthins / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D065348:Macular Pigment; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D065146:Zeaxanthins; C584722:meso-zeaxanthin; D014975:Lutein