Macular Pigment Following Supplement of All Three Carotenoids
(MOST Study)
- Purpose: At the macula, the carotenoids meso-zeaxanthin (MZ), lutein (L), and zeaxanthin (Z) are collectively referred to as macular pigment (MP). This study was designed to measure serum and macular responses to a macular carotenoid formulation.
- Materials and Methods: Ten subjects were recruited into this study (five normal and five with early age-related macular degeneration (AMD)). Subjects were instructed to consume a formulation containing 7.3 mg of MZ, 3.7 mg of L, and 0.8 mg of Z everyday over an eight-week period. The spatial profile of MP optical density (i.e., MPOD at 0.25°, 0.5°, 1°, and 1.75°) was measured using customized heterochromatic flicker photometry, and a blood sample was collected at each study visit in order to analyze serum concentrations of MZ, L, and Z.