The emerging roles of the macular pigment carotenoids throughout the lifespan and in prenatal supplementation
Since the publication of the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) in 2013, the macular pigment carotenoids lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) have become well known to both the eye care community and the public. It is a fascinating aspect of evolution that primates have repurposed photoprotective pig...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Lipid Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022227521000183 |
| _version_ | 1819100183435149312 |
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| author | Paul S. Bernstein Ranganathan Arunkumar |
| author_facet | Paul S. Bernstein Ranganathan Arunkumar |
| author_sort | Paul S. Bernstein |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Since the publication of the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) in 2013, the macular pigment carotenoids lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) have become well known to both the eye care community and the public. It is a fascinating aspect of evolution that primates have repurposed photoprotective pigments and binding proteins from plants and insects to protect and enhance visual acuity. Moreover, utilization of these plant-derived nutrients has been widely embraced for preventing vision loss from age-related macular degeneration. More recently, there has been growing awareness that these nutrients can also play a role in improving visual performance in adults. On the other hand, the potential benefits of L and Z supplementation at very young ages have been underappreciated. In this review, we examine the biochemical mechanisms and supportive data for L and Z supplementation throughout the lifespan, with particular emphasis on prenatal supplementation. We propose that prenatal nutritional recommendations may aim at improving maternal and infant carotenoid status. Prenatal supplementation with L and Z might enhance infant visual development and performance and may even prevent retinopathy of prematurity, possibilities that should be examined in future clinical studies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T00:58:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b8a8641b4122408bb846de50986b749b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0022-2275 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T00:58:43Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Lipid Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-b8a8641b4122408bb846de50986b749b2022-12-21T18:44:15ZengElsevierJournal of Lipid Research0022-22752021-01-0162100038The emerging roles of the macular pigment carotenoids throughout the lifespan and in prenatal supplementationPaul S. Bernstein0Ranganathan Arunkumar1For correspondence: Paul S. Bernstein; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Moran Eye Center, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USADepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Moran Eye Center, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USASince the publication of the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) in 2013, the macular pigment carotenoids lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) have become well known to both the eye care community and the public. It is a fascinating aspect of evolution that primates have repurposed photoprotective pigments and binding proteins from plants and insects to protect and enhance visual acuity. Moreover, utilization of these plant-derived nutrients has been widely embraced for preventing vision loss from age-related macular degeneration. More recently, there has been growing awareness that these nutrients can also play a role in improving visual performance in adults. On the other hand, the potential benefits of L and Z supplementation at very young ages have been underappreciated. In this review, we examine the biochemical mechanisms and supportive data for L and Z supplementation throughout the lifespan, with particular emphasis on prenatal supplementation. We propose that prenatal nutritional recommendations may aim at improving maternal and infant carotenoid status. Prenatal supplementation with L and Z might enhance infant visual development and performance and may even prevent retinopathy of prematurity, possibilities that should be examined in future clinical studies.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022227521000183age-related macular degenerationantioxidantluteinmeso-zeaxanthinnutritionocular health |
| spellingShingle | Paul S. Bernstein Ranganathan Arunkumar The emerging roles of the macular pigment carotenoids throughout the lifespan and in prenatal supplementation Journal of Lipid Research age-related macular degeneration antioxidant lutein meso-zeaxanthin nutrition ocular health |
| title | The emerging roles of the macular pigment carotenoids throughout the lifespan and in prenatal supplementation |
| title_full | The emerging roles of the macular pigment carotenoids throughout the lifespan and in prenatal supplementation |
| title_fullStr | The emerging roles of the macular pigment carotenoids throughout the lifespan and in prenatal supplementation |
| title_full_unstemmed | The emerging roles of the macular pigment carotenoids throughout the lifespan and in prenatal supplementation |
| title_short | The emerging roles of the macular pigment carotenoids throughout the lifespan and in prenatal supplementation |
| title_sort | emerging roles of the macular pigment carotenoids throughout the lifespan and in prenatal supplementation |
| topic | age-related macular degeneration antioxidant lutein meso-zeaxanthin nutrition ocular health |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022227521000183 |
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