Chrysantis Contests Carotenoid Study

Chrysantis Contests Carotenoid Study

WEST CHICAGO, Ill.--Chrysantis criticized the results of a study publishedin the Journal of Nutrition (135, 7:1763-1769, 2005) that found luteinand zeaxanthin in adipose tissue and diet was positively associated with therisk of myocardial infarction.

"Given the increased popularity of dietary supplements containing thesecarotenoids and the number of people that could develop Age Related MacularDegeneration (AMD) over the next few years, it was important for us to lookclosely at the findings of the study," said Manuel Pavon, general managerat Chrysantis. "Having carefully read it, we believe that therepresentation of the conclusions of the study was inaccurate."

According to Pavon, the authors of the study found the association betweendietary lutein and zeaxanthin and the risk of a heart attack was "notsignificant, meaning that a conclusion cannot be made that lutein and zeaxanthindo increase the risk of a heart attack."

Pavon also argued the authors of the study found a trend for increased riskonly in the 5th quartile of the population they studied (1,456 residents ofCosta Rica), suggesting the risk might increase only after a threshold intake ortissue concentration. "The authors do not explain what that threshold is orwhat the causes could be for such a tissue concentration, even though we knowthat adipose tissue acts as a sink for both lutein and zeaxanthin," hesaid.