Lutein, one of over 600 carotenoid antioxidants, is an essential nutrient found in leafy green vegetables, such as kale and spinach, and also in egg yolks. Lutein is found in high concentrations in the macula -- an area of the retina responsible for central vision. Scientific studies have revealed some of the roles lutein plays in vision and other aspects of health.
Visual Damage
Lutein protects against age-associated vision loss, according to a study published in the January 2011 issue of the journal "Klinische Monatsblatter fur Augenheilkunde." Damage to the area of the retina that processes blue light is a common complication of age-associated decline in vision. In the animal study, lutein, zeathinthin, which is a related carotenoid molecule, and omega-3 fatty acids were tested for their abilities to preserve or repair retinal damage. The researchers found that supplementation of both lutein and zeathinthin protected the retina from damage, even after long-term deficiency of these substances. Omega-3 fatty acids reduced damage in a different area of the retina, in the study.
Eyes and Skin
Lutein and zeathinthin protect the retina by filtering high-energy light wavelengths and functioning as antioxidants. Some evidence also exists that these essential nutrients serve a role in skin damage prevention, according to a study published in the March 2009 issue of the journal "Clinical Dermatology." The carotenoid compounds have been shown to be present in human skin. Recent animals studies show protective effects of lutein and zeaxthanthin in preventing damaging effects of ultra-violet radiation in skin as well as in the eyes, say the authors.
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Antioxidant
Strong antioxidant activity is one of the hallmarks of lutein, according to a study published in the August 2010 issue of "Indian Journal of Experimental Biology." In the study, lutein effectively scavenged several types of free radicals and inhibited lipid oxidation. In a laboratory animal portion of the study, one month of lutein supplementation significantly increased activity of the enzymes catalase, superoxide dismutase, and several forms of glutathione in the blood and liver. The authors conclude that lutein shows promise as a supplement for prevention of some degenerative diseases.
Colon Cancer
A study published in the January 2011 issue of the journal "Nutrition and Cancer" showed that lutein may be useful in the prevention and treatment of colon cancer. In the study on laboratory animals, diets consisting of 0.002 percent lutein diminished colon tumors by 55 percent as a preventive and 32 percent as a treatment. Lutein modulates the activity of a family of proteins that regulate proper cellular reproduction, which is suppressed in some forms of cancer, leading to tumor formation.
References
- "Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science"; Nutritional Manipulation of Primate Retinas. V: Effects of Lutein, Zeaxanthin and n--3 Fatty Acids on Retinal Sensitivity to Blue Light Damage; Barker FM 2nd; et al.; January 2011
- "Klinische Monatsblatter fur Augenheilkunde"; Micronutrients and their Relevance for the Eye - Function of Lutein, Zeaxanthin and Omega-3 Fatty Acids; Schweigert FJ; et al.; August 2010
- "Clinical Dermatology"; Lutein and Zeaxanthin in Eye and Skin Health; Roberts RL; et al.; March 2009
- "Nutrition and Cancer"; Dietary Supplementation of Lutein Reduces Colon Carcinogenesis in DMH Treated Rats by Modulating K-Ras, PKB, and β-Catenin Proteins; Reynoso Camacho R; et al.; January 2011
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