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Lutein
Lutein is a yellowish pigment found in kale, spinach, and broccoli, and gives yellow colors to corn and egg yolk, and various fruits, vegetables, and flowers. It’s been well established that lutein is very good for you eyes.
About Lutein
Lutein is one of the xanthophylls, which belong to carotenoid pigments consisting of more than 600 members. Lutein is a yellowish pigment found in kale, spinach, and broccoli, and gives yellow colors to corn and egg yolk, and various fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
History of Lutein
Carotenes and xanthophylls, the brilliant yellow pigments, were isolated in 1831 from carrot root by Heinrich Wilhelm Ferdinand Wackenroder (1789-1854), and from yellow autumn leaves in 1837 by Berzelius, respectively. In Greek, "xantho" means yellow, and "phylls" stands for leaves, which is comparable to "chlorophylls" (green leaves). Many scientific studies ensued, and by 1902, there were over 800 publications in the field of carotene research. Xanthophylls were found in algae, and lutein, a component of xanthophylls was found in egg yolks.
Carotenoids
Later researches confirmed that carotenes and xanthophylls are close related in molecular structure, and Harold Strain coined the word “carotenoids?to refer to the entire group of diverse, and yet closely related substances. Major known functions of these phytochemicals are photoreception and photo protection. Zeaxanthin and antheraxanthin, other members in the family, are also found to be involved in heat (energy) dissipation by converting themselves to violaxanthin, thus adding additional measures for the protection of photosynthesis systems.
Anti-Oxidant
In addition to being an integral part of photosynthesis systems as photoreceptors and protectors, carotenoids are strong anti-oxidants and protects plant tissues from damages caused by free radicals formed by UV-irradiation, etc. When we eat carotenoids such as beta-carotene, lutein, and pycopene through food, they protect our body against oxidative and free radical damages as well.
In addition to anti-oxidant actions, beta-carotene converts in our body to Vitamin A, which is an essential for our body functions including vision. Like beta-carotene, lutein is a carotenoid found commonly in diets. Studies indicate lutein is an essential nutrition for healthy eyes and vision.
Our Eyes
More recently, lutein is found to accumulate specifically in the small area called macula in the retina of our eyes, raising the possibility that lutein also may protect our eyes and optic nerves, like they do for plant tissues from UV damages. As light enters the eye through the lens and passed focused to the back of the eye, an area known as retina (which is like a movie screen onto which images are projected) captures the light and converts the information to electrical impulses of optic nerves, which are sent to the brain. A small area at the center of the retina, called macula, is important for detailed vision. Macula contains pigments whose main constituents are lutein and zeaxanthin, which are both anti-oxidants and photo protectors.
Every 11 minutes, a person goes blind in the US. As we age, our eyes, thus our vision deteriorate inevitably. Unlike skin or other tissues, eye systems, especially optic nerves will not regenerate, and once they are damages, it won't recover and the damages are there to stay. Accumulation of the damages will result in the functional loss of the eye—blindness. Macular degeneration is a leading cause of blindness among old people in the US, causing 300,000 complete blindness annually, and affecting the vision of 13 million people. It doesn't take a genius to see that we need to protect this important part of our eyes. Once the lutein pigment runs out and become thin in the protective pigment layer of macula, the eye and the optic nerves become vulnerable to damages by UV or any harmful irradiation, and free radicals.
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
A growing amount of scientific evidence shows a clear association between a diet rich in lutein and a decreased risk of AMD, a disease that causes irreversible blindness. However, the latest consumer statistics show that most Americans don't consume the recommended daily amounts of vegetables, which are the primary sources of lutein, therefore, a dietary supplement or a vitamin containing lutein may be used as a complement to the diet. People also can expect some of their favorite foods and beverage products to be enriched with lutein, which is another great way to get lutein in your diet.
Recent studies also indicates that lutein is likely to prevent other diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma, and other body parts from lung cancer, breast cancer, and cardiovascular problems.
Lutein Benefits
It’s been well established that lutein is very good for your eyes. Specifically, lutein may:
Help Eyesight - A six-month study conducted by the American Optometric Association monitored individuals with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The 16 study participants, recruited and monitored via the Internet, took 40 mg/day of lutein for four months, and then 20 mg for another four months. As early as three to four weeks into the study, participants reported an improvement in both visual acuity and central vision.
Protect Cells - Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids found in many fruits and vegetables, and are stored in the macula of the eyes, where they protect against free radical damage and reduce the risk of macular degeneration. One in vitro study suggested that lutein and zeaxanthin protected the membranes from free radical damage. They may also protect against free radical damage induced by ultraviolet light.
Reduce The Risk Of Cataracts - Researchers at Harvard University say foods and dietary supplements containing lutein can keep your vision health looking good for a lifetime. New studies published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition show that lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoid antioxidants found in dark green, leafy vegetables and many dietary supplements, may help reduce the risk of cataracts, a disease that affects more than half the people over age 65. "Many people are told that nothing can be done about cataracts and that they are a natural effect of the aging process," says Robert Abel, Jr., M.D., advisory board member of the Lutein Information Bureau. "But research now shows that dietary changes, including consumption of lutein, may have a significant impact on risk reduction." The Harvard studies show that people who consume more spinach, kale, broccoli and other foods rich in lutein have a reduced risk of developing cataracts. In fact, women with the highest intake of lutein and zeaxanthin had a 22 percent reduced risk for cataracts; men had 19 percent reduced risk. "You may be told that you have an early cataract, but surgery is not yet needed," says Abel. "This is the time to build up your antioxidant bank account." Those who don't consume enough lutein in food should consider a dietary supplement providing at least 6 mg per day. Some eye formula supplements also offer a variety of ingredients that are good for the eye, including zinc, taurine and the usual vitamins and bioflavonoids. A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of the eye that blocks some of the incoming light, making vision blurred and distorted. Cataracts are one of the leading causes of blindness in older Americans. Surgery to remove the diseased lens is currently the only medical treatment for cataracts, and nearly two million cataract surgeries are performed in the U.S. each year.
Protect Your Skin - Ongoing research by internationally recognized skin cancer experts from Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, Calif., demonstrates the presence of lutein and other antioxidants in the skin, with the hypothesis that antioxidant levels can actually protect the skin from sun damage and the onslaught of the aging process. Further supporting evidence from a 1998 paper in the Journal of Dermatology found that lutein and beta-carotene seemed effective in protecting the cells from UVA damage.
Protect Your Heart - Lutein is found in HDL, or 'good' cholesterol and researchers think it may prevent LDL cholesterol from oxidizing. Evidence from a 1994 study in Circulation suggested that one of the reasons the French have a low risk of heart disease is that they consume foods high in lutein content like spinach and collard greens.
Help Colon Cancer - A study conducted in part by University of Utah Medical School, Salt Lake City, followed 4,403 subjects to research colon cancer and diet. Researchers looked at carotenoids and their effect on particular types and stages of colon cancer. The dietary carotenoids a-carotene, b-carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin and b-cryptoxanthin were evaluated; lutein proved to have the most protective effect against colon cancer, especially in younger people.
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