New research from Harvard University has identified a link between dietary intake of lutein and zeaxanthin and an increased risk of heart attack, reports Jess Halliday – a finding that may have an impact on the eye health supplements market.The two carotenoids are both present in the macular of the human eye, where they filter out harmful blue light and protect tissues from the effects of lipid oxidation. Intake of lutein and zeathanthin is thought to reduce the risk of the progressive eye disease age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and age-related cataract. The eye health market is a key area for supplement-makers, as Americans seek to prevent the onset of AMD, which affects more than 10 million people in the US and the leading cause of vision loss in people over the age of 55. Cataract interferes with the vision of around one in 49 Americans – 2.02 percent of the population. Once formed, surgical removal of the clouded lens is the only treatment. Products designed to cater to consumers’ concerns include Bausch and Lomb’s Ocuvite PreserVision Lutein formula and ZeaVision’s EyePromise Complete with 20mg of zeaxanthin. Multivitamins makers have also started adding the carotenoids to supplements aimed at the older generation, for example Wyeth’s Centrum Silver with Lutein. But the new research published in the Journal of Nutrition (135:1763-1769, July 2005) draws attention to some potentially serious drawbacks to dietary lutein and zeaxanthin supplementation. As the over-50 age-group, which is most at risk from ADM, is also the group most at risk of heart attack, the findings could temper their enthusiasm for eye health.
