BACKGROUND:Patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) exhibit significantly less macular pigment (MP) and poorer vision when compared to control subjects. OBJECTIVE: To investigate supplementation with the macular carotenoids on MP, vision, and cognitive function in patients with AD versus controls. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind clinical trial with placebo and active arms. 31 AD patients and 31 age-similar control subjects were supplemented for six months with either Macushield (10 mg meso-zeaxanthin [MZ]; 10 mg lutein [L]; 2 mg zeaxanthin [Z]) or placebo (sunflower oil). MP was measured using dual-wavelength autofluorescence (Heidelberg Spectralis®). Serum L, Z, and MZ were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography. Visual function was assessed by best corrected visual acuity and contrast sensitivity (CS). Cognitive function was assessed using a battery of cognition tests, including the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB)). RESULTS: Subjects on the active supplement (for both AD and non-AD controls) exhibited statistically significant improvement in serum concentrations of L, Z, MZ, and MP (p < 0.001, for all) and also CS at (p = 0.039). Also, for subjects on the active supplement, paired samples t-tests exhibited four significant results (from five spatial frequencies tested) in the AD group, and two for the non-AD group, and all indicating improvements in CS. We found no significant changes in any of the cognitive function outcome variables measured (p > 0.05, for all). CONCLUSION: Supplementation with the macular carotenoids (MZ, Z, and L) benefits patients with AD, in terms of clinically meaningful improvements in visual function and in terms of MP augmentation.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND:Patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) exhibit significantly less macular pigment (MP) and poorer vision when compared to control subjects. OBJECTIVE: To investigate supplementation with the macular carotenoids on MP, vision, and cognitive function in patients with AD versus controls. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind clinical trial with placebo and active arms. 31 ADpatients and 31 age-similar control subjects were supplemented for six months with either Macushield (10 mg meso-zeaxanthin [MZ]; 10 mg lutein [L]; 2 mg zeaxanthin [Z]) or placebo (sunflower oil). MP was measured using dual-wavelength autofluorescence (Heidelberg Spectralis®). Serum L, Z, and MZ were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography. Visual function was assessed by best corrected visual acuity and contrast sensitivity (CS). Cognitive function was assessed using a battery of cognition tests, including the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB)). RESULTS: Subjects on the active supplement (for both AD and non-AD controls) exhibited statistically significant improvement in serum concentrations of L, Z, MZ, and MP (p < 0.001, for all) and also CS at (p = 0.039). Also, for subjects on the active supplement, paired samples t-tests exhibited four significant results (from five spatial frequencies tested) in the AD group, and two for the non-AD group, and all indicating improvements in CS. We found no significant changes in any of the cognitive function outcome variables measured (p > 0.05, for all). CONCLUSION: Supplementation with the macular carotenoids (MZ, Z, and L) benefits patients with AD, in terms of clinically meaningful improvements in visual function and in terms of MP augmentation.
Authors: Magdalena M Olchawa; Anja M Herrnreiter; Anna K Pilat; Christine M B Skumatz; Magdalena Niziolek-Kierecka; Janice M Burke; Tadeusz J Sarna Journal: Free Radic Biol Med Date: 2015-10-23 Impact factor: 7.376
Authors: R Moran; J M Nolan; J Stack; A M O'Halloran; J Feeney; K O Akuffo; R A Kenny; S Beatty Journal: J Nutr Health Aging Date: 2017 Impact factor: 4.075
Authors: Paul S Bernstein; Binxing Li; Preejith P Vachali; Aruna Gorusupudi; Rajalekshmy Shyam; Bradley S Henriksen; John M Nolan Journal: Prog Retin Eye Res Date: 2015-11-02 Impact factor: 21.198
Authors: David Kelly; Robert F Coen; Kwadwo Owusu Akuffo; Stephen Beatty; Jessica Dennison; Rachel Moran; Jim Stack; Alan N Howard; Riona Mulcahy; John M Nolan Journal: J Alzheimers Dis Date: 2015 Impact factor: 4.472
Authors: Marina Green-Gomez; Paul S Bernstein; Christine A Curcio; Rachel Moran; Warren Roche; John M Nolan Journal: Transl Vis Sci Technol Date: 2019-12-18 Impact factor: 3.283
Authors: Jirayu Tanprasertsuk; Tammy M Scott; Aron K Barbey; Kathryn Barger; Xiang-Dong Wang; Mary Ann Johnson; Leonard W Poon; Rohini Vishwanathan; Nirupa R Matthan; Alice H Lichtenstein; Guylaine Ferland; Elizabeth J Johnson Journal: Front Nutr Date: 2021-06-29