Lutein and zeaxanthin

Eyesight like an eagle

Author: Alexander Yezovit

Lutein and macular degradation
    Lutein and cataracts
    What studies have shown?

Where to find Lutein?
    Other useful supplements

Today, seven million Americans suffer from devastating diseases of eyes - macular degeneration. They can no longer enjoy the pleasure of reading a book or watching TV. They are unfortunate people who have lost their central vision.

But there is a way to reduce the risk of this problem.

The retina operates as a video camera, transferring the image to the brain. This picture is created by sensitive detectors located throughout the area of the retina. The brightest, albeit small, picture, namely the central image, is created by the macula ("yellow spot") - the area of densely packed visual cells with small size visual detectors, located directly behind the lens.

The image of a man standing at a distance of 6 meters by you is projected onto the macula. Everything else appears in your peripheral vision. You can not drive a car or to see your grandchildren only using peripheral vision. You need a healthy retina.

The problem is that most people do not consume enough fruits and vegetables that are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin to get the protection they need.

With the beginning of macular degeneration, people complain of blurry vision, discomfort of view, dimness of perception of colors perception. They have a sense that straight lines, eg, lines per page, spread out. Many also observe the appearance of dark or empty area in the central field of vision. In some people it is associated with familial tendency toward disease. But the main risk factors - that are excessive exposure to sunlight and smoking. Women and people, who have light iris color, are at greater risk.

Researchers believe that lutein and zeaxanthin protect the retina by absorbing harmful ultraviolet part of the spectrum of sunlight. In addition, they act as antioxidants needed to neutralize free radicals. Free radicals - that are fragments of molecules which are the end products of the oxidation reactions in the body. In addition, the excess of free radicals also occurs because of tobacco smoke, air pollution, certain drugs and environmental toxins.

How can you reduce the risk of macular degeneration? The best way is to make sure that your diet contains a sufficient amount of lutein and zeaxanthin. This means that you need to eat fruits and leafy vegetables are rich in these carotenoids. And you need to take supplements of these carotenoids, if your nutrition is poor by them.

Our eyes, which are often subjected to oxidative action of sunlight, need all the antioxidant protection that they only can get. Vitamin C and some bioflavonoids are two mighty guard of gentle cells our retina.

Carotenoids that are found in fruits and vegetables are effective antioxidants. A large group of carotenoids includes well-known beta-carotene, as well as lutein, lycopene, alpha-carotene and zeaxanthin.

Plants, rich in beta-carotene (for example, spinach, pumpkin, rhubarb, etc.), also contain lutein - 2-4 times more than the beta-carotene. This carotenoid is a very important antioxidant.

Lutein, as a "catcher" of different radicals, plays a key role in antioxidant protection. Research has established that lutein has specific activity to the eye. Lutein is largely concentrated in the "yellow spot" - a small area of the retina responsible for central vision and visual acuity.

Free radical reactions cause such changes in capillaries of the macula that lead to their destruction. Yellow pigments of the macula, which include lutein and zeaxanthin, protect the retina from the harmful effects of the ultraviolet part of the spectrum.

The results of studies in macular age degenerative disease clearly demonstrated that lutein plays a significant role in the protection of retina. Lutein and zeaxanthin are capable of more than 50% to lower risk of macular degeneration, which is responsible for a third of all cases of age-related blindness.

The lens of the eye composed 98% of the proteins. Free radicals damage proteins, resulting their coagulation and loss of lens transparency. This leads to the formation of cataracts, which is 50% of the cases of senile blindness. Many factors contribute to cataract formation, such as strong sunlight, ultraviolet radiation, as well as smoking. And some chronic diseases, such as diabetes, increase the risk of cataract formation.

The exact mechanism of action of lutein to prevent cataract is still unknown. Furthermore protect lens proteins, lutein apparently, better than beta-carotene, prevents the damaging effect of free radicals on fats within the eye.

Several large studies have shown that people who consume high amounts of lutein, the risk of cataracts is lower by 20-50%. The observations clearly show that the consumption of spinach, characterized by an extremely high content of lutein, is more effective than the use of the other vegetables with the content of other carotenoids. (As part of this study, such vegetables were studied as carrots, potatoes and winter dried fruit, in which the lutein content is negligible.)

Another study found that men who consumed broccoli, spinach or other greens 2 times a week, had 25% less of indications for cataract surgery than men who ate these foods less than once a month.

Dr. Linda N?beling from the National Cancer Institute recently presented data showing the general decline of lutein intake. This was especially manifested in the high-risk groups of retinal degeneration. For example, between 1987 and 1992, the consumption of lutein among men and women aged 40 to 69 years was reduced by 16 percent.

Dr. Johanna M. Seddon and her team from Harvard University found that taking 6 mg of lutein per day reduces the risk of macular degeneration by 43%. John T. Landrem and Richard A. Bones from Florida International University in 1995 conducted a study to find out how lutein supplements affect the content of macular pigments. After 140 days of supplementation, the pigment content increased in tested men by between 20 to 40 percent. This was the first evidence that taking lutein supplements can restore the loss of macular pigment.

Dr. Neil Solomon in his book "Overcoming the retinal degeneration" says that lutein is particularly important for the preservation of visual acuity, since it is absorbed from food and transported in large quantities in the macula and lens of the eye. In each of these areas, it shows a specific, useful antioxidant effect. Lutein reduces the risk of vision loss and even cataracts, and can prevent the onset of blindness in people who are prone to these eye diseases.

According to Bill Hammond, research has shown that individual people vary in their ability to absorb nutrients from food and to deposit them in the cells. Some people may have a relatively high intake of fruits and vegetables, as well as a high level of nutrients in the blood, but their low level in the tissues.

The ability to measure macular pigment content in the retina may help doctors identify these people and determine if they are at risk for developing eye diseases. Dr. Hammond writes: "In the future we will be able to use this technology as applied to our dietary recommendations, developing them individually, rather than relying on the medium variant".

Scientists from US National Eye Institute (NEI) works on the refinement of the recommended daily dose of lutein, but Frederick Ferris, director of clinical research of NEI, suggested that it likely will be in the range of 6 to 15 mg per day.

This information is important for everyone - not just for those who are already diagnosed with retinal degeneration. The American Medical Association calls on all, including young people monitor their diet to reduce the risk of age-related degradation.

Excellent antioxidant effect of lutein is manifested not only in the eyes, but also in other organs, so everyone can take it with success, who want to use the beneficial effects of antioxidants (for example, for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or cancer).

Lutein may help prevent or slow down atherosclerosis, a thickening of the arteries, which is a major risk factor for disease of heart and blood vessels. Studies have shown that in people who consume a lot of lutein, a thickening of artery walls is much less. Lutein also reduces the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, thereby reducing the risk of clogged arteries.

Lutein can also reduce the risk of skin cancer and sunburn. Sunlight contributes to the production of free radicals in the skin, which can damage cellular DNA. Lutein may protect the skin from the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation.

Lutein is found in dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, Chinese cabbage, kale and broccoli, in a variety of fruit and bread. Carrots, squash and other vegetables containing orange and yellow pigment and egg yolks are also sources of lutein. All these products are an important part of a healthy diet.

However, few people could receive sufficient daily dose of lutein from the usual diet, as most products contain it in small quantities. The greatest amount of lutein contained in kale - up to 39 mg per 100 grams of product. In spinach - one of the richest in lutein plants, - its content is from 12 mg (in fresh leaves) to 7 mg in dried. Approximately the same amount of lutein contained in turnips. Even broccoli contains only 2 mg of lutein per 100 grams of product, and such vegetables as carrots and corn contain less than 1 mg of lutein per 100 grams.

Therefore, an important source of lutein - that are specially manufactured natural products, dietary supplements with a standardized content of the active substance. Complex Lutein Plus comprises 6 mg lutein per tablet, that is, the required daily dose. That progressive formula also contains zeaxanthin, thereby better yet provides continuous protection of eye health.

This is a good prophylactic of age-related macular degenera-tion, cataracts, myopia, diabetic retinopathy, eyes fatigue, especially when working with a computer.

Besides lutein, other antioxidants play also important role in preventing or slowing the progression of eye disease. In 2001, NEI published results of seven-year study, which showed that high doses of vitamin C in combination with vitamin E, beta-carotene and zinc significantly reduce the risk of developing advanced stages of cataract - by about 25 percent.

Such high levels of antioxidants are the first condition for the effective treatment and slowing of age-related weakening of vision. Therefore, antioxidant supplements of different composition found widespread use in the prevention and treatment of eye diseases.

This article is for informational purposes only; It does not replace a visit to a doctor or professional advice.

This article is copyrighted by Alexander Yezovit. It cannot be reprinted without permission from Alexander Yezovit.

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