Serum response to supplemental macular carotenoids in subjects with and without age-related macular degeneration

Abstract

Macular pigment (MP) is composed of lutein (L), zeaxanthin (Z) and meso-zeaxanthin (MZ). The present study reports on serum response to three different MP supplements in normal subjects (n 27) and in subjects with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) (n 27). Subjects were randomly assigned to: Group 1 (20Â mg L and 2Â mg Z), Group 2 (10Â mg L, 2Â mg Z and 10Â mg MZ) or Group 3 (3Â mg L, 2Â mg Z and 17Â mg MZ). Serum carotenoids were quantified at baseline, and at 4 and 8 weeks using HPLC. Response data for normal and AMD subjects were comparable and therefore combined for analysis. We report response as the average of the 4- and 8-week concentrations (saturation plateau). Serum L increased significantly in Group 1 (0·036Â μmol/l per mg (269Â %); P