title: MACULAR PIGMENT DISTRIBUTION RESPONSES TO HIGH-DOSE ZEAXANTHIN SUPPLEMENTATION IN PATIENTS WITH MACULAR TELANGIECTASIA TYPE 2.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze macular pigment (MP) amount and distribution in patients with macular telangiectasia Type 2 receiving oral zeaxanthin supplementation in a randomized, open-label, interventional trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight macular telangiectasia Type 2 patients were randomized to 10 mg or 20 mg of zeaxanthin per day. At each visit, best-corrected visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, fundus biomicroscopy, color fundus photography, autofluorescence imaging, optical coherence tomography, and serum carotenoid levels were tested. Patients were assessed at baseline and after 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of zeaxanthin supplementation. Concentration of MP was analyzed and calculated from autofluorescence imaging obtained at 488-nm excitation wavelength. Serum carotenoid levels were obtained using high-performance liquid chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of patients had definite increases in the intensity of hypofluorescent ring of MP, but none of them deposited MP centrally at the fovea. Although some patients noted subjective improvements in vision, no objective improvements could be documented, and there were no changes in foveal optical coherence tomographic features. Yellowish, hypofluorescent crystals appeared in one patient's macular region with no change in visual acuity. These inner retinal crystals disappeared several months after discontinuing her 20-mg zeaxanthin supplement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the current study, zeaxanthin supplementation does not result in any visual benefit in patients with macular telangiectasia Type 2 and does not reestablish a normal peaked distribution of MP in the fovea. One patient developed a novel, reversible, crystalline maculopathy in response to zeaxanthin supplementation that was reminiscent of canthaxanthin crystalline maculopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Rene Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Aruna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gorusupudi
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Kimberley
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wegner
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharifzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gellermann
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Bernstein
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D065348:Macular Pigment / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061848:Optical Imaging / Q000379:methods; D058456:Retinal Telangiectasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D013683:Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity; D065146:Zeaxanthins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D065348:Macular Pigment; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D002338:Carotenoids