Lutein Supplementation Over One Year Helps Preserve Eyesight in Macular Degeneration

PURPOSE:
To investigate the effect of daily supplementation with lutein (L) capsules on macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and visual acuity in early AMD (Age Related Macular Degeneration).

METHODS:
A 12 month randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-centre investigation of the effects of L supplementation in early AMD was conducted. 72 patients (mean age 70.5 ± 8.7) were randomly assigned to either L (lutein, n=36) or P (placebo, n=36) groups. MPOD and best corrected visual acuity (LogMAR) were measured. Blood serum samples were collected RESULTS: Mean MPOD increased for the L group from 0.38±0.19 to 0.53±0.22 optical density (OD) units. A mixed design ANOVA showed this was statistically significant (p<0.001). There was no change in MPOD for the P group. There was no significant change in VA in the L group (n=36). The P group (n=36) showed a significant deterioration from 0.05 ± 0.13 to 0.09 ± 0.13, (p < 0.05). To avoid ceiling effects, 2 sub-groups of patients with VA worse than 0.06 at baseline were re-analysed. In the L sub-group (n= 19) a mean improvement in VA from 0.23±0.12 at baseline to 0.16±0.10 at visit 4 was observed (p< 0.05). The improvement in VA in the L sub-group was significant compared to the deterioration in the P group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION:
Lutein supplementation increases MPOD levels in early-stage AMD patients. VA measurements suggest the progress of AMD might be slowed in some patients with augmented levels of MP.