A supplementation study in human subjects with a combination of meso-zeaxanthin, (3R,3′R)-zeaxanthin and (3R,3′R,6′R)-lutein

• Published in: British journal of nutrition Vol. 100; no. 6; pp. 1307 - 1314
• Main Authors: Thurnham, David I., Trémel, Aurélie, Howard, Alan N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.12.2008
• Subjects: Adult; analysis; beta Carotene; beta Carotene - blood; Bioavailability; Biological and medical sciences; Blood; blood chemistry; chemistry; Cholesterol; Cholesterol - blood; Chromatography, Liquid; Chromatography, Liquid - methods; dietary supplements; Dietary Supplements - analysis; Drug Combinations; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gender differences; Humans; Isomerism; Liquid chromatography; Lutein; Lutein - analysis; Lutein - blood; Lutein - chemistry; Macular degeneration; Macular disease; Male; men; meso-Zeaxanthin; methods; Middle Aged; nutrient uptake; Nutrition; nutrition physiology; Pigments; Plasma; Retina; Supplementation study; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; women; Xanthophylls; Xanthophylls - analysis; Xanthophylls - blood; Xanthophylls - chemistry; Young Adult; Zeaxanthin; Zeaxanthins; Lutein; Zeaxanthin; Macular disease; Supplementation study; meso-Zeaxanthin; Human; Eye disease; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Maculopathy; Supplementation; meso-Zeaxanthin: Zeaxanthin: Lutein: Supplementation study: Macular disease
• ISSN: 0007-1145; 1475-2662; 1475-2662
• DOI: 10.1017/S0007114508971336

We measured the blood uptake of meso-zeaxanthin (MZ) from a mixture of macular pigments since its bioavailability in man has not been studied. Volunteers (ten men and nine women) were recruited and received one capsule of Lutein Plus®/d. Blood was taken at baseline, day 10 and day 22. One capsule contained 10·8 mg lutein, 1·2 mg (3R,3′R)-zeaxanthin and 8·0 mg MZ. Plasma lutein and total zeaxanthin concentrations were quantified using isocratic liquid chromatography and the eluting xanthophyll fractions were collected and re-chromatographed on a chiral column to assess the proportion of MZ. Plasma concentrations per mg dose at day 22 suggested that (3R,3′R)-zeaxanthin (0·088 μmol/l per mg) was about 50 % more actively retained by the body than lutein (0·056 μmol/l per mg) (although the difference was not significant in women) and 2·5–3·0 times more than MZ (0·026 μmol/l per mg). Concentrations of MZ at day 22 were 2·5 times higher in women than men. The plasma responses from lutein and (3R,3′R)-zeaxanthin in the Lutein Plus® were lower than literature values for the pure substances. That is, their uptake into plasma appeared to be slightly depressed by the presence of MZ. Plasma concentrations of β-carotene were depressed by about 50 % at day 10 and about 35 % at day 22. In conclusion, the lower plasma response to MZ compared with (3R,3′R)-zeaxanthin probably indicates that MZ is less well absorbed than (3R,3′R)-zeaxanthin but work with pure MZ will be needed to confirm that the lower plasma response was not due to the large amount of lutein in the Lutein Plus®.