Biologic mechanisms of the protective role of lutein and Zeaxanthin in the eye

• Published in: Annual review of nutrition Vol. 23; pp. 171 - 201
• Main Authors: Krinsky, Norman I, Landrum, John T, Bone, Richard A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Annual Reviews 01-01-2003; Annual Reviews, Inc
• Subjects: Age Factors; Aging - physiology; Antioxidants - metabolism; beta Carotene - administration & dosage; beta Carotene - analogs & derivatives; beta Carotene - chemistry; beta Carotene - physiology; blindness; blue light; Cataract - diet therapy; Cataract - prevention & control; color; elderly; foods; green leafy vegetables; Humans; lutein; Lutein - administration & dosage; Lutein - chemistry; Lutein - physiology; Macula Lutea - chemistry; Macular degeneration; Macular Degeneration - diet therapy; Macular Degeneration - prevention & control; photoreceptors; Pigments; Primates; reactive oxygen species; retina; Retina - drug effects; Retinal Pigments - analysis; Retinal Pigments - chemistry; Retinal Pigments - physiology; Risk Factors; Xanthophylls; zeaxanthin; Zeaxanthins
• ISSN: 0199-9885; 1545-4312
• DOI: 10.1146/annurev.nutr.23.011702.073307

The macular region of the primate retina is yellow in color due to the presence of the macular pigment, composed of two dietary xanthophylls, lutein and zeaxanthin, and another xanthophyll, meso-zeaxanthin. The latter is presumably formed from either lutein or zeaxanthin in the retina. By absorbing blue-light, the macular pigment protects the underlying photoreceptor cell layer from light damage, possibly initiated by the formation of reactive oxygen species during a photosensitized reaction. There is ample epidemiological evidence that the amount of macular pigment is inversely associated with the incidence of age-related macular degeneration, an irreversible process that is the major cause of blindness in the elderly. The macular pigment can be increased in primates by either increasing the intake of foods that are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, such as dark-green leafy vegetables, or by supplementation with lutein or zeaxanthin. Although increasing the intake of lutein or zeaxanthin might prove to be protective against the development of age-related macular degeneration, a causative relationship has yet to be experimentally demonstrated.