TY - JOUR
T1 - Nutritional manipulation of primate retinas, I
T2 - Effects of lutein or zeaxanthin supplements on serum and macular pigment in xanthophyll-free Rheus monkeys
AU - Neuringer, Martha
AU - Sandstrom, Marita M.
AU - Johnson, Elizabeth J.
AU - Snodderly, D. Max
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2004/9
Y1 - 2004/9
N2 - PURPOSE. The xanthophylls lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) are the primary components of macular pigment (MP) and may protect the macula from age-related degeneration (AMD). In this study, L or Z was fed to rhesus monkeys reared on xanthophyll-free diets to follow the accumulation of serum carotenoids and MP over time. METHODS. Eighteen rhesus monkeys were fed xanthophyll-free semipurified diets from birth until 7 to 16 years, The diets of six were then supplemented with pure L and six with pure Z at 3.9 μmol/kg per day (2.2 mg/kg per day) for 24 to 56 weeks. At baseline and 4- to 12-week intervals during supplementation, serum carotenoids were measured by HPLC, and MP density was estimated by two-wavelength reflectometry. Serum carotenoids and MP were also measured in monkeys fed a stock diet. RESULTS. Monkeys fed xanthophyll-free diets had no L or Z in serum and no detectable MP. During supplementation, serum L or Z increased rapidly over the first 4 weeks and from 16 weeks onward maintained similar levels, both several times higher than in stock-diet-fed monkeys. The central peak of MP optical density increased to a relatively steady level by 24 to 32 weeks in both L- and Z-fed groups, Rhesus monkeys fed a stock diet had lower blood concentrations of L than those found in humans and other nonhuman primates. CONCLUSIONS. Rhesus monkeys respond to either dietary L or Z supplementation with increases in serum xanthophylls and MP, even after life-long xanthophyll deficiency. These animals provide a potential model to study mechanisms of protection from AMD.
AB - PURPOSE. The xanthophylls lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) are the primary components of macular pigment (MP) and may protect the macula from age-related degeneration (AMD). In this study, L or Z was fed to rhesus monkeys reared on xanthophyll-free diets to follow the accumulation of serum carotenoids and MP over time. METHODS. Eighteen rhesus monkeys were fed xanthophyll-free semipurified diets from birth until 7 to 16 years, The diets of six were then supplemented with pure L and six with pure Z at 3.9 μmol/kg per day (2.2 mg/kg per day) for 24 to 56 weeks. At baseline and 4- to 12-week intervals during supplementation, serum carotenoids were measured by HPLC, and MP density was estimated by two-wavelength reflectometry. Serum carotenoids and MP were also measured in monkeys fed a stock diet. RESULTS. Monkeys fed xanthophyll-free diets had no L or Z in serum and no detectable MP. During supplementation, serum L or Z increased rapidly over the first 4 weeks and from 16 weeks onward maintained similar levels, both several times higher than in stock-diet-fed monkeys. The central peak of MP optical density increased to a relatively steady level by 24 to 32 weeks in both L- and Z-fed groups, Rhesus monkeys fed a stock diet had lower blood concentrations of L than those found in humans and other nonhuman primates. CONCLUSIONS. Rhesus monkeys respond to either dietary L or Z supplementation with increases in serum xanthophylls and MP, even after life-long xanthophyll deficiency. These animals provide a potential model to study mechanisms of protection from AMD.
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U2 - 10.1167/iovs.02-1243
DO - 10.1167/iovs.02-1243
M3 - Article
C2 - 15326146
AN - SCOPUS:4344637842
SN - 0146-0404
VL - 45
SP - 3234
EP - 3243
JO - Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
JF - Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
IS - 9
ER -