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Lutein, zeaxanthin may protect against dry AMD
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Lutein and zeaxanthin, yellow plant pigments found in corn, squash, and other vegetables, may have a protective effect against intermediate age-related macular degeneration in women younger than 75 years, according to a study.
Suzen M. Moeller, MD, and colleagues evaluated the incidence of dry AMD among 1,787 women aged 50 to 79 years enrolled in the Carotenoids in Age-Related Eye Disease Study. The researchers compared AMD rates between women with a baseline lutein plus zeaxanthin intake above the 78th percentile and those with intakes below the 28th percentile.
When limiting the analysis to women younger than 75, the authors found that the high-intake group was significantly less likely to develop intermediate AMD (odds ratio, 0.57), although the difference was not statistically significant.
While the findings are consistent with those of similar studies, the "results could be due to chance," the study authors said.
"Long-term prospective studies and clinical trials [are] needed to determine whether the intake of macular carotenoids, or as markers of broader dietary patterns, can protect against intermediate AMD," the authors said.
The study was published ahead of print on the Archives of Ophthalmology Web site.