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Carotenoid Supplements For Eye Health

One of the facets of maintaining eye health with supplements and nutrition is preventing a condition known as age related macular degeneration, also known as AMD.

AMD doesn't cause any pain, but results in a loss of central vision over time. AMD gradually destroys the central retina, and the effect in the advanced stages is like seeing with a big hole punched out of the center. It is the main factor in the loss of vision in those ages 60 or older, so it's a big problem associated with aging.

AMD comes in two types - wet and dry. Wet AMD is the advanced stage, though it can occur very quickly in some people. Here, central vision is lost quite quickly, as abnormal, fragile blood vessels leak blood and fluid and dislodge the macula from its' normal spot at the back of the eye.

Dry AMD is a gradual problem, with loss of vision occurring slowly. It usually manifests as blurry vision at first, and tends to affect both eyes. There may be a need for more light for reading, or a difficulty in recognizing people's faces.

Fortunately, scientists have discovered some common and not-so-common nutrients that look like they will help prevent AMD. Studies have focused on the carotenoids, a group of phytochemicals that give vegetables and fruits their distinctive coloring. As the name suggests, carotenoids are indeed found in carrots, but they are also found in tomatoes, corn, green leafy vegetables, egg yolks, squash, and a number of other vegetables.

In relation to AMD, the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin have been the particular focus of attention. It is believed they prevent damage to the macular by absorbing the blue light spectrum that can cause damage to the macula. They are also antioxidants, and thus prevent free radical damage when taken in the right amounts, and their nutritional values help strengthen the membranes in the eye's cells.

Recently, however, another carotenoid has garnered some attention as a possible help in preventing age-related macular degeneration. This is a naturally occurring chemical variation of the above-mentioned zeaxanthin. Known as meso-zeaxanthin, it is a bit more rare, but the results are quite promising from a study conducted at Florida International University.

Meso-zeaxanthin

• is absorbed into the serum in the blood after eating foods containing it
• * is considered effective at increasing macular pigment density

Nutraingredients reported that:

"The researchers report that macular pigment optical density increased as a result of carotenoid supplementation by an average rate of 0.59 milli-absorbance unit/day in the 10 supplemented subjects. The placebo group experienced reductions with an average decreasing rate of 0.17 milliabsorbance units/day."

Those in the study took 20mg a day of a mixture of lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin, but the supplement contained mostly meso-zeaxanthin.