Study: Intake of carotenoids and reduced risk of macular degeneration

Study shows: (a) A higher dietary intake of carotenoids was associated with a lower risk for AMD. The specific carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, which are primarily obtained from dark green leafy vegetables, were most strongly associated with a reduced risk for AMD. Individuals consuming the highest levels of carotenoids had a statistically significant 43% lower risk for AMD. A significant trend was seen for a lower risk for AMD with increasing amounts of carotenoids in the diet. The combination of lutein and zeaxanthin was most strongly associated with AMD, (b) The dominant pigments in the macula are lutein and zeaxanthin, which are selectively accumulated in the retina from plasma. Lutein and zeaxanthin can filter out visible blue light ... and might serve to protect the retina from photic damage or other oxidative insults. Seddon, etal. JAMA 1994 Nov 9;272(18):1413-20