Effect of Supplemental Lutein and Zeaxanthin on Serum, Macular Pigmentation, and Visual Performance in Patients with Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Table 1
Baseline characteristics of subjects with early age-related macular degenerationa,b.
Placebo ()
10 mg lutein ()
20 mg lutein ()
10 mg lutein + 10 mg zeaxanthin ()
Age (y)
69.0 ± 7.5
69.7 ± 8.3
69.3 ± 6.9
68.5 ± 6.9
Sex, male [ (%)]
11 (39.3)
9 (34.6)
14 (51.9)
12 (44.4)
Education (y)
12.2 ± 2.8
10.8 ± 2.7
12.2 ± 2.9
10.5 ± 4.1
BMI (kg/m2)
24.8 ± 3.0
24.1 ± 3.4
25.1 ± 3.3
24.6 ± 3.6
Serum lipids (mmol/L)
Total cholesterol
5.022 ± 1.756
4.984 ± 1.068
5.091 ± 0.883
5.247 ± 0.952
Triglyceride
1.571 ± 1.575
1.538 ± 0.684
1.491 ± 0.821
1.777 ± 0.791
HDL cholesterol
1.388 ± 0.438
1.386 ± 0.319
1.408 ± 0.258
1.481 ± 0.291
LDL cholesterol
3.091 ± 0.606
3.190 ± 0.746
3.203 ± 0.605
3.338 ± 0.605
Early cataracts [ (%)]c
6 (21.4)
6 (23.0)
5 (18.5)
8 (29.6)
MPOD (D.U.)
0.315 ± 0.144
0.307 ± 0.142
0.315 ± 0.122
0.320 ± 0.118
Serum concentration (μmol/L)
Lutein
0.337 ± 0.397
0.319 ± 0.250
0.308 ± 0.231
0.251 ± 0.260
Zeaxanthin
0.066 ± 0.075
0.048 ± 0.050
0.050 ± 0.042
0.046 ± 0.055
D.U.: density unit; MPOD: macular pigment optical density. There were no significant differences among groups in any of the baseline study characteristics noted.
bFor continuous variables, all values are mean ± SDs. For categorical variables, all values are values, percentages of the total in parentheses. Comparisons among groups were derived from analysis of variance for continuous variables or the chi-square test for categorical variables.
cCataracts diagnosed and graded according to the Lens Opacities Classification System III.
