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The Effect of Lutein and Zeaxanthin Supplementation on Metabolites of These Carotenoids in the Serum of Persons Aged 60 or Older

¹From the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN), the ²Department of Nutrition and Food Science, and the ⁵Department of Avian Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland; the ⁴Clinical Trials Branch, Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Research, National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; and ⁶The EMMES Corp., Rockville, Maryland.

PURPOSE. To investigate the effect of lutein supplementation at doses of 2.5, 5.0, and 10 mg/d for 6 months on distribution of these carotenoids and their metabolites in the serum of elderly human subjects, with and without age-related macular degeneration. To determine whether supplementation with lutein can interact with the serum levels of other dietary carotenoids, retinol, and -tocopherol.

METHODS. Forty-five subjects received daily supplements of lutein (containing 5% zeaxanthin) for 6 months and were followed up for another 6 months after supplementation. Blood was collected at various intervals and lutein, zeaxanthin, and their metabolites in the sera were quantified by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-UV/visible detection. Other dietary carotenoids, retinol, and -tocopherol were identified and quantified on a C₁₈ reversed phase HPLC column.

RESULTS. After 6 months of supplementation with 10 mg of lutein, the increases in the mean serum levels from baseline were: 210 to 1000 nM/L (P < 0.0001) for lutein and 56 to 95 nM/L (P < 0.0001) for zeaxanthin. Similarly, the mean concentrations (nM/L) of carotenoid metabolites increased from 49 to 98 (P < 0.0001) for 3-hydroxy-ß,-caroten-3'-one (3'-oxolutein); 31 to 80 (P < 0.0001) for 3'-hydroxy-,-caroten-3-one; and 19 to 25 (P < 0.0001) for ,-carotene-3,3'-dione. The serum levels of these carotenoids gradually decline within 6 months after supplementation.

CONCLUSIONS. The increase in the serum levels of lutein/zeaxanthin correlates with increases in the serum levels of their metabolites that have previously been identified in the ocular tissues. Elderly human subjects with and without AMD can safely take supplements of lutein up to 10 mg/d for 6 months with no apparent toxicity or side effects.

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