Influence of lutein supplementation on macular pigment,assessed with two objective techniques

Eight male, nonsmoking volunteers between the ages of 18 and 50 years (mean age, 40.6 years) were recruited for the study. The subjects took a daily dose of 10 mg of lutein, in the form of lutein diesters derived from marigolds, for a period of 12 weeks. The supplementation induced an increase in mean plasma lutein by a factor of 5 and a linear 4-week increase in relative macular pigment density of 5.3%. Lutein supplementation can significantly improve blood lutein and macular pigment density, thus improving the symptoms of macular degeneration.