In the pursuit of better health, many of people are examining their diets to determine if what they eat is making them ill. In some cases, foods that are nutritious and not harmful to most people are toxic allergens to others. One nutrient that is receiving scrutiny from the autistic community is lutein, a plant pigment found in many vegetables.
Lutein
Lutein is classified in the carotenoid family of nutrients, along with alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, beta-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin. Carotenoids are red, yellow and orange pigments synthesized by plants that are absorbed in the digestive tract when eaten with fats. While alpha- and beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin can be converted to retinol, or vitamin A in the body, lycopene, zeaxanthin and lutein have no vitamin A activity. Lutein and zeaxanthin are thought to play an important role in eye health, according to the Linus Pauling Institute.
Lutein Role in Human Health
Lutein is found in large concentrations in the retina of the eye, along with its cousin, zeaxanthin. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, lutein and zeaxanthin play an important role in absorbing sunlight and protecting the macula, the center of the retina, from damaging blue light rays. Lutein and zeaxanthin deficiencies are thought to play a role in macular degeneration, a degenerative eye disease leading to blindness in the elderly.
Lutein Intolerance and Autism
While lutein is an important nutrient for eye health, some individuals suspect the pigment to be toxic to autistic children, exacerbating the symptoms of autism. An article published on the website Curezone.com claims that as many as 85 percent of autistic individuals are lutein intolerant. MayoClinic.com places symptoms of autism in three developmental categories: behavior, language and social interaction. Symptoms can range in severity and may include unresponsiveness, poor eye contact, resistance to affection, difficulty with verbal interaction, insistence on routine and becoming disturbed when routines are disrupted.
Dietary Lutein
Despite claims linking lutein intolerance to autism, little creditable research is available. An exhaustive and tightly controlled 2010 study conducted by researchers at the University of Rochester examining the link between nutrition and autism found no correlation between diet and autism symptoms. Despite lack of clinical evidence linking autism to lutein intolerance, many parents of autistic children adhere to a lutein-free diet. Lutein is found in large amounts in leafy green vegetables such as spinach, kale, collard greens, mustard greens, broccoli and egg yolk.
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