Lutein Supplementation Increases MPOD

VIENNA, AustriaSix months of lutein supplementation appears to significantly increase macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and contribute to improved visual acuity (VA) and macular function (mean differential light threshold, MDLT). The human trial was conducted by researchers from the Medical University of Vienna and published online ahead of print in Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science.

Dubbed the Lutein Intervention Study Austria (LISA), the randomized, placebo controlled, double-masked trial involved 126 patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), who were AREDS stage 2,3 or 4, and took either daily lutein supplementation or placebo for six months.  Researchers measured MPOD and assessed both VA and MDLT.

They found lutein supplementation significantly increased MPOD by 27.9 ± 2.9% compared to placebo. While they found no significant effect of lutein supplementation on MDLT or VA, they noted a tendency towards an increase for both MDLT and VA compared to placebo. However, they did find a significant correlation between the increase in MPOD after 6 months and the increases in MDLT and VA after six months.