New study on Lutemax 2020 supporting vision featured in experimental eye research journal

The unique findings of a study on macular carotenoids from Lutemax 2020 conducted by the University of Georgia are the subject of a new paper, 'Serum and Retinal Response to Three Different Doses of Macular Carotenoids Over 12 Weeks of Supplementation,' published in the July issue of Experimental Eye Research — the official journal of the International Society of Eye Research.

The macular carotenoids — lutein, RR- and RS (meso)-zeaxanthin — have been shown to have neuroprotective and visual performance benefits once deposited in retinal tissue. The concentration of the three macular carotenoids in the macula is usually measured and expressed in terms of macular pigment ocular density (MPOD). Improvements in MPOD serum have been linked with potential improvements in visual function.

LAMA — an acronym for Lutein, Vision and Mental Acuity — is a group of studies showing the benefits of all three macular carotenoids from Lutemax 2020.

'The great thing about the LAMA studies is that they show specific benefits from different doses of lutein and RR- and RS(meso)-zeaxanthin, so formulators can adapt for the needs of specific target groups,' said Abhijit Bhattacharya, President, OmniActive Health Technologies. 'The macular carotenoids have shown significant visual and neuroprotective benefits and OmniActive has sponsored the LAMA studies to explore and highlight the distinct benefits of Lutemax 2020 with a proprietary combination of all three macular carotenoids.'

This study — LAMA I — was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in young, healthy subjects supplementing with three different doses of macular carotenoids, specifically lutein and zeaxanthin isomers (RR- and RS(meso)-zeaxanthin) from Lutemax 2020 at 6 and 1.2mg, 10 and 2mg and 20 and 4mg, respectively.

Within 2 weeks, there was a statistically significant increase in serum lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations at all three doses. More importantly, in 8 weeks, the 10 and 20mg doses resulted in a statistically significant increase compared with the placebo in MPOD.

Furthermore, all three doses showed a sustained and significant increase compared with the placebo in MPOD at 12 weeks. Even at the lowest dose, supplementation resulted in a significant increase in MPOD much sooner than what has been predicted by previous findings from other studies. Additionally, there was an improvement in the spatial profile of macular pigment where the greatest gains in optical density were shown in the very centre of the macula, where the highest risk of photo-oxidative damage exists.

'LAMA I is the first study to show supplementation with all three macular carotenoids — lutein, RR- and RS-zeaxanthin — resulted in rapid retinal response,' said James M. Stringham, PhD, University of Georgia. 'This study further demonstrates the important role of lutein and zeaxanthin isomers in eye health.'