Lutein, Zeaxanthin Lower AMD Risk in Women

MADISON, Wis.--An ancillary study from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) suggests diets rich in the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin have a lower risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) (Arch Ophthalmol, 124:1151-62, 2006).

Women from Iowa, Wisconsin and Oregon aged 50 to 79 years, who had dietary intakes of lutein and zeaxanthin either above the 78th and below the 28th percentiles at baseline of the WHI were recruited four to seven years later in the Carotenoids in Age-Related Eye Disease Study (CAREDS) project. Analysis showed the prevalence of intermediate AMD was not statistically different between the high- and low-intake groups after adjusting for age; however, women under 75 with a stable intake of the two carotenoids without a history of chronic diseases did have lower odds ratios of AMD. The CAREDS Research Study Group concluded diets rich in lutein plus zeaxanthin may protect against intermediate AMD in healthy women aged 75 or younger.