News
Increased levels of the protective macular pigment in the fovea of the eye are shown to be positively associated with increased blood serum of lutein, zeaxanthin and DHA in a new human study (1)
19 December 2016
02 February 2013
According to a new study from China daily lutein intake may improve sensitivity to contrast and glare, which helps driving at night.
In the randomized controlled trial, 120 healthy people who spent an average of 10 hours per day driving received either a daily dose of 20 milligrams of lutein or a placebo for one year (1). The participants’ visual acuity, serum lutein concentrations, macular pigment optical density (MPOD), and visual performance were measured at regular intervals. The study results showed that serum lutein levels, central MPOD, as well as contrast and glare sensitivity at night significantly improved in the lutein group, while no such changes were recorded in the placebo group. In addition, the lutein group showed a non-significant trend towards improved visual acuity.
The researchers concluded that supplementation with lutein may benefit driving at night and other spatial discrimination tasks carried out when ambient illumination is low. Although it is already known that lutein can affect visual performance, we still have much to learn about its effect in occupational populations, like dri-vers, they noted.
Lutein and zeaxanthin are the only carotenoids that filter the harmful blue light which can damage the rods and the cone cells in the eye. Cones are used for vision in well-lit conditions (photopic vision); whereas the eye switches over to the rods for seeing in very low-level light (scotopic vision). At many twilight levels (mesopic vision) a combination of rods and cones is used.
19 December 2016
10 October 2011
Sun-sensitive people tend to be deficient in vitamin D and may need dietary supplements to get adequate blood levels, says a new UK study.
19 January 2009
Women with higher intakes of calcium from both food and supplements appear to have a lower risk of cancer overall, and both men and women with high calcium intakes have lower risks of colorectal cancer and other cancers of the digestive system.