.........................LUTEIN MOLECULE
.........................LUTEIN MOLECULE
CLICK ON HIGHLIGHTED WORDS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
LUTEIN ,(loo teen) n [LATIN luteum = egg yolk, from luteus = yellow]- a yellow pigment in the chemical family of carotenoids and found in egg yolks, vegetables, marigold flowers, alfalfa and to a lesser degree in many other plants. The original medical association of LUTEIN was as an isolate from the corpus luteum, a part of the ovaries, and hence its name, but important medical aspects are its presence in the macula of the eye where it is strongly implicated in maintaining eye health, and as a protective agent from heart disease. Humans do not synthesize lutein and depend entirely on dietary sources such as vegetables (and eggs) or supplement lutein pills.
PROPERTIES:
CHEMICAL-Organic, carotenoid, biological anti-oxidant,
PHYSICAL (in purified form)-yellow colored slightly hydroscopic crystalline solid
FORMULA C40 H52 O2
STRUCTURE- see graphic above
MOLECULAR WEIGHT 644
Lutein has in the past several years been the subject of many studies (see reference link below) associating it with risk reduction for failing eyesight due to Age-related Macular Degeneration or AMD, and therefore has generated significant interest. While the National Eye Institute adopts a "guarded evaluation" (see NEI link at bottom) of a Lutein/AMD risk association, a general conclusion from the studies available is that increased dietary intake of Lutein reduces the risk for macular degeneration. Note that risk reduction does not imply a cure once macular degeneration has started but reduction of risk implies prevention for some people, and slowing or halting the progression of macular degeneration once it starts could be realistic expectations as more studies are indicating.
See also ZEAXANTHIN
A study relating lutein to macular degeneration by Stuart Richer, O.D. presented at the Southern Council of Optometrists 1999 annual meeting, indicated "improvements in visual function in as little as three months. Often striking improvements in vision were detected through follow-up tests, even when the patient did not report subjective vision changes" in study subjects with the dry form of macular degeneration after a diet supplemented with lutein rich foods. Since the study group apparently did not include subjects with wet form macular degeneration it would not be scientifically prudent to assume that both forms would have the same results. Yet assuming that the wet form would not benefit may not be a prudent approach either, considering the relative ease and inexpense of supplementing a diet with lutein rich foods or lutein pills.
Sufficient lutein of the quantity indicated for macular degeneration risk reduction can be obtained from a proper diet, but considering that this requires daily attention to the lutein content of specific food items not usually present in a diet and the disciplinary persistence to maintain that attention, many people may not obtain the lutein required for macular degeneration risk reduction solely from diet. Often people in the over 75 high risk group reside in senior housing complexes where meals are supplied and the option to select a lutein rich diet is not available.
Considering this failing, for some people in a high risk group or those with macular degeneration hoping to slow or halt its progression, taking lutein pills can be a reliable way to assure sufficient lutein intake that results in increases in blood serum levels equivalent to dietary consumption of high lutein foods. A study sponsored by the USDA (see USDA link at bottom) indicates "the amount of lutein that gets into the body from supplements is similar to that contained in spinach when eaten as part of a fat containing diet." It is important to note that in either case the presence of some fat (or oils) in the diet acts to aid the absorption of lutein.
A more recent study (Resonance Raman measurement of macular carotenoids in normal subjects and in age-related macular degeneration patients. Bernstein PS, Zhao DY, Wintch SW, Ermakov IV, McClane RW, Gellermann W. Ophthalmology 2002 Oct 109:1780-7) confirms that "Patients who had begun to consume supplements containing high doses of lutein (> or =4 mg/day) regularly after their initial diagnosis of AMD had average macular pigment levels that were in the normal range (P = 0.829) and that were significantly higher than in AMD patients not consuming these supplements (P = 0.038)."
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OUTSIDE REFERENCES
NEI page position on Lutein
This evaluation has changed from not encouraging the use of Lutein and even loosely insinuating by association a possibility of harm, to acknowledging studies that indicate "a link between lutein and decreased risk of eye disease." Also they have published results of their nutritional study (AREDS) and fully endorse the concept that a combination of those nutrients included in the study (Lutein was not included) as "effective treatment to slow the progression of AMD." Thankfully they have announced further studies which specifically address the roll of Lutein.
USDA sponsored study SERUM RESPONSE OF LUTEIN IN HUMANS AFTER INGESTION OF A LUTEIN SUPPLEMENT OR SPINACH
(This page appears to no longer be available, but go to the SEARCH link on the page that
does come up and search for "lutein" for many interesting studies.)
Sirna Therapeutics is in clinical trials for a new approach to treatment of wet AMD that uses the latest gene silencing thechniques to combat the new blood vessel growth characteristic of wet AMD. This is worthy of keeping an eye on.
Acuity Pharmagenticats is another company using gene silencing to treat wet AMD.
The Foundation Fighting Blindness has coverage of many conditions causing blindness including AMD. However their literature, (like the NEI page used to) seems to discount lutein, only passivly refferring to it in green leafy vegetables, while promoting the more medically orthadox treatments, some of which they fund studies for. Which brings us to the the reason for providing a link - from time to time they enroll patients for clinical trials involving treatment for AMD. If you have AMD this web site should provide up-to-date information for enrollment.
An additional possibility for treating wet AMD.
FURTHER LINKS to AMD relevant info.
124840 Update V1 7/5/05
