title: Lutein and zeaxanthin supplied by red/orange foods and fruits are more closely associated with macular pigment optical density than those from green vegetables in Spanish subjects.
abstract: Lutein and zeaxanthin (L+Z) accumulate in the retina. Although vegetables are major contributors to their intake, a stronger association between fruits and macular pigment optical density (MPOD) has been reported. We hypothesized that L+Z intake from fruits would have a stronger association with L+Z status markers (MPOD, serum concentrations) than intake from vegetables or eggs, and that those associations would also differ according to plant foods color. One hundred eight subjects (57 men; age groups, 20-35 and 45-65 years) were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. L+Z intake from fruits, vegetables, and eggs was determined using three 24-hour diet recalls and a country-specific carotenoid database. Vegetables were the major contributors (75%) to L+Z intake, followed by eggs (10%) and fruits (4%). Vegetables supplied 86% and 84% of the LandZ intake, respectively, and fruits supplied 3% and 16%. Green foods supplied 78% and 52% of LandZ, respectively, followed by red/orange (9% and 38%) and white/yellow (14% and 9%). Factorial analysis showed associations in older subjects. The explained variance of the first 2 principal components was 54% considering L+Z intake from fruits, vegetables, and eggs, and 55% considering L+Z intake from plant foods grouped by color. Macular pigment optical density is related to L+Z intake from fruits (0.264, P=.003) and is independent of that from vegetables and eggs. It is related to L+Z intake from red/orange foods (0.320, P=.000) and the serum concentrations to that from green foods (0.222, P=.11). Although vegetables and green foods of plant origin are the major contributors to L+Z intake, red/orange foods and fruits have the strongest relationship to MPOD in study participants (45-65 years of age).
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Science, Technology and Nutrition (ICTAN-CSIC), c/José Antonio Novais, 10, 28008 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Rocío
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Estévez-Santiago
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Science, Technology and Nutrition (ICTAN-CSIC), c/José Antonio Novais, 10, 28008 Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: BOlmedilla@ictan.csic.es.
authors.forename: Begoña
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Olmedilla-Alonso
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidad Complutense of Madrid, Pza, Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28008 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Beltrán-de-Miguel
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidad Complutense of Madrid, Pza, Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28008 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cuadrado-Vives
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004531:Eggs / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D014975:Lutein / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D065348:Macular Pigment / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism; D013030:Spain; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry*; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult; D065146:Zeaxanthins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D065348:Macular Pigment; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D014975:Lutein
keywords: Dietary intake; Fruit and vegetables; Lutein; Macular pigment optical density; Zeaxanthin