Lutein, Omega-3 & Your Vision

A recent study published in the May 2008 issue of American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, studied the effects of lutein and docosahexaenic acid (DHA – omega-3) on macular degeneration. This four-month study researched 59 women, 60 to 80 years old. The women were randomly assigned a placebo, DHA, lutein, or lutein plus DHA supplement.*

Lutein is found in the healthy macula. DHA is found in the retina. Researchers wanted to study the effects lutein (12 mg/day) and DHA (800 mg/day) had on their serum concentrations and macular pigment optical density (MPOD).

Both supplements alone helped to increase their concentration levels in the eye, however, both lutein and DHA together had the greatest difference on serum concentrations and MPOD when combined. The study concluded that “lutein and DHA may aid in prevention of age-related macular degeneration.”

Vitamin Health offers both a lutein supplement (Viteyes® Essentials) and an omega-3 supplement. Lutein can also be found as part of the other Viteyes® eye health supplements. Visitviteyes.com for more information.

*Elizabeth J Johnson, Hae-Yun Chung, Susan M Caldarella and D Max Snodderly. “The influence of supplemental lutein and docosahexaenoic acid on serum, lipoproteins, and macular pigmentation.” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Vol. 87, No. 5, 1521-1529, May 2008.