HEALTH NEWS

Study Title:

Lutein Supplementation Over One Year Helps Preserve Eyesight in Macular Degeneration

Study Abstract

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.

Study Information

Murray IJ, Makridaki M, van der Veen RL, Carden D, Parry NR, Berendschot TT.
Lutein supplementation over a one year period in early AMD might have a mild beneficial effect on visual acuity; the CLEAR study.
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci.
2013 February
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Carys Bannister Building, Dover St, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom.