PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to examine the effects of lutein supplementation on visual acuity, central visual-field area, and subjective visual disturbances in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and related retinal degenerations, in an international study population recruited via an Internet mailing list. METHODS: Sixteen participants (13 with RP, three with other retinal degenerations) completed a 26-week program of lutein supplementation (40 mg/day for 9 weeks, 20 mg/day thereafter); 10 participants also took 500-mg docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)/day, vitamin B complex, and digestive enzymes. Ten participants previously taking vitamin A and/or beta-carotene continued those supplements throughout the study. Participants self-tested their visual acuity on their computer screen and their central visual-field extent on a wall chart, weekly for 14 weeks, bi-weekly thereafter. RESULTS: Mean visual acuity improved by 0.7 dB and mean visual-field area by 0.35 dB. Improvements started 2 to 4 weeks after supplementation began, and plateaued at 6 to 14 weeks. Visual acuity gains were strongly correlated with eye color: 1.2 dB in seven blue-eyed participants, but 0.3 dB in seven dark-eyed participants. Participants who received previous supplements showed greater benefits in central visual-field area (0.55 dB) than those not receiving previous supplements (no change). No significant effects of age, sex, disease stage, or study supplement were found. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term vision improvements after lutein supplementation--previously reported in age-related macular degeneration--also occur in RP, especially in blue-eyed individuals; vitamin A may increase visual field benefits.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to examine the effects of lutein supplementation on visual acuity, central visual-field area, and subjective visual disturbances in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and related retinal degenerations, in an international study population recruited via an Internet mailing list. METHODS: Sixteen participants (13 with RP, three with other retinal degenerations) completed a 26-week program of lutein supplementation (40 mg/day for 9 weeks, 20 mg/day thereafter); 10 participants also took 500-mg docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)/day, vitamin B complex, and digestive enzymes. Ten participants previously taking vitamin A and/or beta-carotene continued those supplements throughout the study. Participants self-tested their visual acuity on their computer screen and their central visual-field extent on a wall chart, weekly for 14 weeks, bi-weekly thereafter. RESULTS: Mean visual acuity improved by 0.7 dB and mean visual-field area by 0.35 dB. Improvements started 2 to 4 weeks after supplementation began, and plateaued at 6 to 14 weeks. Visual acuity gains were strongly correlated with eye color: 1.2 dB in seven blue-eyed participants, but 0.3 dB in seven dark-eyed participants. Participants who received previous supplements showed greater benefits in central visual-field area (0.55 dB) than those not receiving previous supplements (no change). No significant effects of age, sex, disease stage, or study supplement were found. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term vision improvements after lutein supplementation--previously reported in age-related macular degeneration--also occur in RP, especially in blue-eyed individuals; vitamin A may increase visual field benefits.
Authors: Tomas S Aleman; Artur V Cideciyan; Elizabeth A M Windsor; Sharon B Schwartz; Malgorzata Swider; John D Chico; Alexander Sumaroka; Alexander Y Pantelyat; Keith G Duncan; Leigh M Gardner; Jessica M Emmons; Janet D Steinberg; Edwin M Stone; Samuel G Jacobson Journal: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci Date: 2007-03 Impact factor: 4.799
Authors: L Hooper; R L Thompson; R A Harrison; C D Summerbell; H Moore; H V Worthington; P N Durrington; A R Ness; N E Capps; G Davey Smith; R A Riemersma; S B J Ebrahim Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2004-10-18