God's Natural Sunglasses


The two words might sound strange to you: lutein and zeaxanthin. But there's nothing strange about what they can do for your eyes.

Lutein is among a group of antioxidants called carotenoids that can help maintain healthy cells and tissues in the eye. Lutein is concentrated in the retina and lens of the eye, and a number of studies suggest a link between lutein and a decreased risk of eye disease. The National Eye Institute (NEI), a division of the National Institutes of Health, is currently investigating further the role of lutein in eye disease prevention.

In 1994, a NEI-supported study indicated that consumption of foods rich in carotenoids - particularly green, leafy vegetables - was associated with a reduced risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). Later in 1999, data from several studies (the Nurses Health Study, the Health Professionals Follow-up Study and the Beaver Dam Study) showed that people with higher intakes of lutein and zeaxanthin (another carotenoid) had a lower risk of developing cataracts. In 2001, data from the Third National Health & Nutrition Examination Survey reported that higher intakes of lutein and zeaxanthin among people ages 40-59 may be associated with a reduced risk of advanced ARMD.

Because of the promising results from these studies, the NEI is conducting a pilot study to see how well lutein is absorbed into the bloodstream in people over age 60. This is the first step in testing lutein as a possible treatment for ARMD. In addition, the NEI is supporting a study that further investigates the intake of lutein and zeaxanthin with the likelihood of developing ARMD and/or cataracts. The results of this study will help professionals make dietary recommendations regarding the benefit of eating diets rich in lutein and zeaxanthin.

Through my extensive research on lutein and zeaxanthin, I have found countless studies over a span of more than 50 years supporting the benefits of these two antioxidants on eye health and protection from ARMD and cataracts. In particular, lutein and zeaxanthin have been shown to increase specific pigments in the eye - not in the iris (the colored portion), but in the back portion of the eye (the retina). These are the same carotenoids, along with the familiar beta-carotene, that protect plants from the harmful effects of sunlight. These pigments act as a filter to protect sensitive retinal tissue from the sun's rays that are particularly damaging to nerve receptors. Eating a diet rich in lutein and zeaxanthin can increase the macular pigment in the retina and thus offer protection from sun-related macular degeneration - in essence, they serve as God's natural sunglasses.

I recommend that along with a daily supplement that contains lutein and zeaxanthin, that you eat foods rich in these carotenoids - such as cantaloupe, corn, grapes, yellow squash and blueberries, along with green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale and collard greens. Protect your eyes by putting on nature's sunglasses!