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Lutein
14.12.05 18:04
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Lutein - Ingredients: Flower of marigold(Tagetes erecta) - Functional effect: Helps eye health by maintaining the density of yellow spot pigment that can be reduced by aging process
- Daily Intake : 10~20mg of lutein (Source : Ministry of Food and Drug Safety)
What is Lutein?
Derived from a Latin world 'Luteus' meaning yellow, lutein is a kind of xanthophylls carotenoid that exists in nature. Extracted from marigold under the chrysanthemum family, it is recently highlighted for healthy eye purpose. Lutein is mainly contained in the 'yellow spot ' of retina, with the effect of protecting eyes and keeping them healthy. Because of no biosynthesis by human body, it requires for the intake of food containing lutein or functional food.
Lutein is much contained in green-leaved vegetables including kale, spinach and broccoli as well as red or orange colored vegetables including carrot, tomato and corn and in egg yolk.
| Marigold, used as ingredient of lutein
Effect of Lutein
1. Maintains the density of yellow spot pigment that can be reduced by the aging process
It was found that pigment was reduced since the age of 25, finally to the half of pigment density that makes up yellow spot, when one turns the age of 60. In particular, it was found smokers were 2.3 times faster in the speed of reduction in yellow spot than non-smokers. Lutein plays a role for maintaining yellow spot pigment that can be reduced, and prevents retinal tissue from being damaged by light, through filtering strong blue light to the eyes when yellow spot pigment accumulated. In particular, lutein reduces the senile falling of eyesight mainly caused by the yellow spot in the central part, protecting the inside of eyes from being damaged.
2. Filtering strong light prevents against yellow spot degeneration After long time use of eyes, blue light from ultraviolet ray and computer monitor destructs yellow pigment spot that makes up optic nerves of retina. Once yellow spot destructed, things around us are seen blurry. Further, when peripheral vision blood vessel also destructed, yellow spot degeneration is created. Previously, degenerated yellow spot was common in old people in their 60~70s, but recently, younger people tend to have it. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, 11% of patients with degenerated yellow spot were in their 40s for the most recent 5 years. People today may have yellow spot damaged due to the excessive exposure to source of light (electromagnetic waves) including TV, computer and smartphone. Other reasons include fatigue, stress and nutritional unbalance. To prevent of degeneration of yellow spot, it is important to take food containing lutein or nutritional supplements, as well as to avoid smoking and ultraviolet ray.
3. Antioxidant effect of preventing aging of yellow spot Protein called opsin in optic nerve of retina, are completely degraded into water and CO2, after light particles are changed into electric signal. However, if not completely degraded due to aging process, the bottom of retina will have accumulated remainders that prevent oxygen from being supplied by the blood vessels below the retina. Lutein has the antioxidant effect on the yellow spot of eyes, thereby recovering eye fatigue and that may reduce the aging and the resultant eye disease diseases. In addition, this antioxidant effect on skin also reduces inflammation and rubefaction. Some researchers say that it is helpful also to cardio-vascular diseases such as artery hardening. Lutein is the main component that makes up the cells of eyes, brain, breasts and womb. It is known as having antioxidant effect for not only preventing cataract and yellow spot from being degenerated but also even for having anticancer effect. Lutein has been reported as antioxidant effect 10 times higher than beta-carotene or lycopene.
4. Effective for the entire eye health The study results indicated that lutein concentration is higher in the subjects are with good eye sight and eye health, while that is lower in those who are not, which means the intake of lutein would lead to the high probability of maintaining eye health. It can be useful partly for yellow spot degeneration, eye fatigue, a feeling of irritation caused by foreign matter and amblyopia, and there was effect on some cases of patients with dry eyes. The intake of lutein together with beta-carotene, vitamin A, zeaxanthin, astazanthin, zinc, vitamin C and vitamin E can help eye health.
Related Articles
1. Carotenoids and antioxidants in Age-related maculopathy Italian study: multifocal elctroretinogram modifications after 1 year. (Parisi V, Tedeschi M, et al., Eur J Ophthalmology, 2008; 115: 324-333) : The administration of carotenoid (lutein and zeaxanthin) and antioxidant has the effect of increasing the function of retina of patients with degenerated yellow spot
2. Dietary carotenoid, Vitamin A, C, and E, and advanced age-related macular degeneration. Eye Disease Case-Control Study Group. (seddon JM, Ajani US, et al., JAMA(USA Journal of Life Science). 1994; 272: 1413-20) : Clinical study that indicates that the intake of lutein (6mg per day) for 6 years led to the reduction by about 57% in the regeneration of yellow spot
3. Lutein supplementation in retinitis pigmentosa: PC-based vision assessment in a randomized double-masked placebo-controlled clinical trial [NCT00029289]. (Bahrami H, Melia M, Dagnelie G, et al., BMC Ophthalmol. 2006 Jun 7.) : Lutein supplements seem to delay yellow spot degeneration caused by aging process and cataract which are the biggest reason of losing eyesight in adults. A clinical study indicates that lutein has the possibility as healing agent for hereditary disease called retinitis pigmentosa that causes sight loss.
4. A prospective study of carotenoid intake and risk of cataract extraction in US men. (Brown L, Rimm EB, Seddon JM, et al. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999; 70:517-521) : A clinical study of the intake of lutein and zeaxanthin helpful to lowering the risk of cataract
5. A prospective study of carotenoid and vitamin A intakes and risk of cataract extraction in US women. (Chasan-Taber L, Willett WC, Weddon JM, et al., Am J Clin Nutr. 1999; 70:509-516) : A clinical study of the reduction of cataract by 22% in the intake group of lutein and zeaxanthin, compared to control group
6. The macular pigment: a possible role in protection from age-related macular degeneration. (Landrum JT, Bone RA, Kilburn MD, Adv Pharmacol. 1997; 38:537-556) : The main pigment of yellow spot, lutein filters strong light, thereby protecting retina and preventing cell membrane from being damaged by ultraviolet ray, the main reason of generated yellow spot caused by aging.
7. Double-masked, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of lutein and antioxidant supplementation in the intervention of atrophic age-related macular degeneration: the Veterans LAST study (Lutein Antioxidant Supplementation Trial). (Richer S, Stiles W, Statkute L, et al., Optometry. 2004;75:216-30) : A clinical study of a follow-up with 90 patients with dry macular degeneration for 12 months that indicates that there was increased visual improvement in the group of the intake of lutein or lutein-contained antioxidant supplements
8. Hammond BR Jr, Wooten BR, Snodderly DM. Density of the human crystalline lens is related to the macular pigment carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin. Optom Vis Sci. 1997; 74:499-504 : The density of eye lens related to aging is inversely proportional to that of yellow spot. Yellow spot pigment lutein and zeaxanthin delay the increase in density of age-related eye lens.
9. Clinical trial of lutein in patients with retinitis pigmentosa receiving vitamin A. (Berson EL, Rosner B, Sandberg MA., Arch Ophthalmol. 2010 Apr; 128(4):403) : A clinical study
with 255 patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa showed that the intake of lutein
and vitamin A delayed the process of losing peripheral vision. |
