Dietary sources of lutein and zeaxanthin carotenoids and their role in eye health
- PMID: 23571649
- PMCID: PMC3705341
- DOI: 10.3390/nu5041169
Dietary sources of lutein and zeaxanthin carotenoids and their role in eye health
Abstract
The eye is a major sensory organ that requires special care for a healthy and productive lifestyle. Numerous studies have identified lutein and zeaxanthin to be essential components for eye health. Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoid pigments that impart yellow or orange color to various common foods such as cantaloupe, pasta, corn, carrots, orange/yellow peppers, fish, salmon and eggs. Their role in human health, in particular the health of the eye, is well established from epidemiological, clinical and interventional studies. They constitute the main pigments found in the yellow spot of the human retina which protect the macula from damage by blue light, improve visual acuity and scavenge harmful reactive oxygen species. They have also been linked with reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts. Research over the past decade has focused on the development of carotenoid-rich foods to boost their intake especially in the elderly population. The aim of this article is to review recent scientific evidences supporting the benefits of lutein and zexanthin in preventing the onset of two major age-related eye diseases with diets rich in these carotenoids. The review also lists major dietary sources of lutein and zeaxanthin and refers to newly developed foods, daily intake, bioavailability and physiological effects in relation to eye health. Examples of the newly developed high-lutein functional foods are also underlined.
Figures
Similar articles
-
Possible role for dietary lutein and zeaxanthin in visual development.Nutr Rev. 2008 Dec;66(12):695-702. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2008.00121.x. Nutr Rev. 2008. PMID: 19019038 Review.
-
The potential role of dietary xanthophylls in cataract and age-related macular degeneration.J Am Coll Nutr. 2000 Oct;19(5 Suppl):522S-527S. doi: 10.1080/07315724.2000.10718975. J Am Coll Nutr. 2000. PMID: 11023002 Review.
-
Biologic mechanisms of the protective role of lutein and zeaxanthin in the eye.Annu Rev Nutr. 2003;23:171-201. doi: 10.1146/annurev.nutr.23.011702.073307. Epub 2003 Feb 27. Annu Rev Nutr. 2003. PMID: 12626691 Review.
-
The role of lutein in eye-related disease.Nutrients. 2013 May 22;5(5):1823-39. doi: 10.3390/nu5051823. Nutrients. 2013. PMID: 23698168 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Associations between intermediate age-related macular degeneration and lutein and zeaxanthin in the Carotenoids in Age-related Eye Disease Study (CAREDS): ancillary study of the Women's Health Initiative.Arch Ophthalmol. 2006 Aug;124(8):1151-62. doi: 10.1001/archopht.124.8.1151. Arch Ophthalmol. 2006. PMID: 16908818
Cited by 54 articles
-
The potential health benefits of dietary natural plant products in age related eye diseases.Heliyon. 2020 Jul 10;6(7):e04408. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04408. eCollection 2020 Jul. Heliyon. 2020. PMID: 32685729 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Assessment of genetically modified maize Bt11 x MIR162 x 1507 x GA21 and three subcombinations independently of their origin, for food and feed uses under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 (application EFSA-GMO-DE-2010-86).EFSA J. 2018 Jul 11;16(7):e05309. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5309. eCollection 2018 Jul. EFSA J. 2018. PMID: 32625956 Free PMC article.
-
Differences in macular pigment optical density across four ethnicities: a comparative study.Ther Adv Ophthalmol. 2020 Jun 15;12:2515841420924167. doi: 10.1177/2515841420924167. eCollection 2020 Jan-Dec. Ther Adv Ophthalmol. 2020. PMID: 32596637 Free PMC article.
-
Food intake biomarkers for green leafy vegetables, bulb vegetables, and stem vegetables: a review.Genes Nutr. 2020 Apr 9;15(1):7. doi: 10.1186/s12263-020-00667-z. Genes Nutr. 2020. PMID: 32272877 Free PMC article. Review.
-
A Novel Botanical Combination Attenuates Light-Induced Retinal Damage through Antioxidant and Prosurvival Mechanisms.Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2020 Mar 13;2020:7676818. doi: 10.1155/2020/7676818. eCollection 2020. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2020. PMID: 32256961 Free PMC article.
References
-
- World Health Organization. Global data on visual impairments, 2012. [(accessed on 17 October 2012)]. Available online: http://www.WHO.int/blindness/GLOBALDATAFINALforweb.pdf.
-
- Mogk L. The differences between wet and dry age-related macular degeneration, 2013. [(accessed on 7 March 2013)]. Available online: http://www.visionaware.org/section.aspx?FolderID=6&SectionID=134&DocumentID=5972.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
LinkOut - more resources
-
Full Text Sources
-
Other Literature Sources
-
Medical
-
Miscellaneous