Ej. Johnson et al., Relation among serum and tissue concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin and macular pigment density, AM J CLIN N, 71(6), 2000, pp. 1555-1562
Background: Lutein and zeaxanthin are the only carotenoids in the macular r
egion of the retina (referred to as macular pigment [MP]). Foods that are r
ich in lutein and zeaxanthin can increase MP density. Response to dietary l
utein and zeaxanthin in other tissues has not been studied.
Objective: The objective of this study was to examine tissue responses to d
ietary lutein and zeaxanthin and relations among tissues in lutein and zeax
anthin concentrations.
Design: Seven subjects consumed spinach and corn, which contain lutein and
zeaxanthin, with their daily diets for 15 wk. At 0, 4, 8, and 15 wk and 2 m
o after the study, serum, buccal mucosa cells, and adipose tissue were anal
yzed for carotenoids, and MP density was measured.
Results: Serum and buccal cell concentrations of lutein increased significa
ntly from baseline during dietary modification. Serum zeaxanthin concentrat
ions were greater than at baseline only at 4 wk, whereas buccal cell and ad
ipose tissue concentrations of zeaxanthin did not change. Adipose tissue lu
tein concentrations peaked at 8 wk. Changes in adipose tissue lutein concen
tration were inversely related to the changes in MP density, suggesting an
interaction between adipose tissue and retina in lutein metabolism. To inve
stigate the possibility of tissue interactions, we examined cross-sectional
relations among serum, tissue, and dietary lutein concentrations, anthropo
metric measures, and MP density in healthy adults. Significant negative cor
relations were found between adipose tissue lutein concentrations and MP fo
r women, but a significant positive relation was found for men.
Conclusion: Sex differences in lutein metabolism may be an important factor
in tissue interactions and in determining MP density.