Spotlight on Lutein

Lutein (LOO-teen) and its structural look-alike, zeaxanthin, are yellow-orange pigments from the carotenoid family. They're found in green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale and turnip greens. These antioxidant nutrients are concentrated in the lens and macula of the eye where they help protect against the photo-oxidative damage of blue light.

Research shows that lutein plays a key role in protecting vision. One population health study found that women eating high amounts of foods containing lutein had a 57% reduction in risk for age related macular degeneration compared to those consuming less. Another study investigated antioxidant intake and the incidence of nuclear cataracts in adults between 43-84 years of age. Of all the antioxidants examined, lutein and zeaxanthin were the only ones that could be statistically associated with nuclear cataracts (the more of these substances that were consumed, the lower were the chances of developing cataracts), suggesting a protective influence of these carotenoids against clouding of the lens.

Despite its importance, the consumption of lutein-rich foods declined by about 18% over recent years. Americans now average about 1 mg of lutein daily, while studies suggest that 5 to 6 times that amount may be needed to support healthy vision as we age. So resolve to put more green leafy vegetables on your plate and consider the ScienceBased Health formulation, OcularProtect to help bridge the dietary lutein gap.