Category > Supplements > Lutein

Meso-zeaxanthin is one of the three yellow pigments in the macula of eye. The other two are lutein and zeaxanthin. Together they are referred to as macular pigment (MP).

Meso-zeaxanthin is concentrated at the very center of the macula, while lutein is more prevalent in the peripheral macula. While meso-zeaxanthin is the most powerful antioxidant out of these three macular carotenoids, a combination of the three seems to exhibit the greatest antioxidant potential.

In this study, doctors wanted to achieve the highest combined concentrations of these carotenoids in 27 volunteers with normal vision and 27 with AMD, and tested three dosage levels of lutein and meso-zeaxanthin (amounts of zeaxanthin were constant at 2 mg per day). Group one took 20 mg of lutein; group two 10 mg of lutein, and group three 3 mg of lutein. Group one took no meso-zeaxanthin; group two 10 mg of meso-zeaxanthin, and group three 17 mg of meso-zeaxanthin per day.

After eight weeks, circulating levels of meso-zeaxanthin had increased in all three groups, while group two had the highest combined concentrations of all three carotenoids.

 

Reference: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2012; 53: 7871-7880

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