title: Effects of a lutein supplement on the plasma lutein concentration and macular pigment in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of lutein supplementation on plasma lutein concentrations and the macular pigment optical density (MPOD) in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this double-masked placebo-controlled study, 20 patients received lutein 20 mg/d and 19 received placebo. The plasma lutein concentration and MPOD using autofluorescence spectrometry (density unit, DU) were measured at baseline and 1 and 4 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean plasma lutein concentrations and MPOD values in the lutein and control groups, respectively, were 91.5 and 78.2 ng/mL and 0.444 and 0.437 DU at baseline; 204.9 and 79.3 ng/mL and 0.460 and 0.442 DU at 1 month; and 228.0 and 78.4 ng/mL and 0.441 and 0.421 DU at 4 months. The plasma concentration in the lutein group was significantly higher than in controls at 1 and 4 months (P < 0.0001 for both comparisons); however, the MPOD values did not differ significantly between groups at 1 (P = 0.479) or 4 months (P = 0.883). In patients with a plasma lutein concentration below the mean level in 20 age-matched healthy subjects (mean 105.3 ng/mL; n = 13 in lutein group, n = 15 in control group), the control MPOD values significantly (P = 0.0430) decreased at 4 months (mean baseline, 0.437 DU; 4 months, 0.404 DU). The MPOD in the lutein group remained at the baseline level (mean baseline, 0.426 DU; 4 months, 0.438 DU) (P = 0.6542).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MPOD did not increase in patients with CSC with short-term lutein supplementation; however, among patients with low plasma lutein, supplemental lutein prevented a decline in MPOD that was observed in control subjects (www.umin.ac.jp/ctr number, UMIN000005849).
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors: Miki
authors: M
authors: Sawa
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan Department of Ophthalmology, Sumitomo Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
authors: Fumi
authors: F
authors: Gomi
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors: Chikako
authors: C
authors: Hara
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors: Kohji
authors: K
authors: Nishida
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D056833:Central Serous Chorioretinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014975:Lutein / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012168:Retinal Pigments / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D012168:Retinal Pigments; D014975:Lutein
keywords: autofluorescence; central serous chorioretinopathy; lutein supplement; macular pigment; plasma lutein