title: Lutein and Brain Function.
abstract: Lutein is one of the most prevalent carotenoids in nature and in the human diet. Together with zeaxanthin, it is highly concentrated as macular pigment in the foveal retina of primates, attenuating blue light exposure, providing protection from photo-oxidation and enhancing visual performance. Recently, interest in lutein has expanded beyond the retina to its possible contributions to brain development and function. Only primates accumulate lutein within the brain, but little is known about its distribution or physiological role. Our team has begun to utilize the rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) model to study the uptake and bio-localization of lutein in the brain. Our overall goal has been to assess the association of lutein localization with brain function. In this review, we will first cover the evolution of the non-human primate model for lutein and brain studies, discuss prior association studies of lutein with retina and brain function, and review approaches that can be used to localize brain lutein. We also describe our approach to the biosynthesis of13C-lutein, which will allow investigation of lutein flux, localization, metabolism and pharmacokinetics. Lastly, we describe potential future research opportunities.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Erdman
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Abbott Nutrition, Discovery Research, Columbus, OH 43219, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kuchan
authors.affiliation: Jean Mayer US Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
authors.forename: Emily S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Mohn
authors.affiliation: Jean Mayer US Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Departments of Chemistry and the Beckman Institute, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Stanislav S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Rubakhin
authors.affiliation: Departments of Chemistry and the Beckman Institute, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Departments of Chemistry and the Beckman Institute, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Sweedler
authors.affiliation: Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA.
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neuringer
keywords: animal models; brain function; carotenoids; lutein; monkeys