Macular pigment optical density

Method

Macular pigment optical density by heterochromatic flicker photometry, fundus autofluorescence or reflectometry, at the retinal eccentricity the study states. The method and eccentricity are recorded on the edge where the source supplies them.

The method is part of the endpoint identity. Studies measuring the same quantity by a different method are held as separate endpoints.

Notes

Serum lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations are the near-miss and the correlation is only moderate — PMID 27420092 measured both and found r of roughly 0.33 to 0.40. This is retinal deposition; those are circulating supply, and a serum rise does not entail a retinal rise. The second problem is internal: flicker photometry, autofluorescence and reflectometry give systematically different absolute values, and pooled meta-analytic estimates do not recover which was used, so edges built from pooled figures are flagged as method-indeterminate rather than assigned a method they do not have. Also distinct from contrast sensitivity and from late age-related macular degeneration incidence, which are the functional and clinical endpoints this is proposed as a surrogate for.

Findings

2 findings from 1 compound, strongest first.

• lutein — increases

  BLikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.Findingreplicated ×1

  “This meta-analysis revealed that lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin supplementation improved MPOD both in AMD patients and healthy subjects with a dose-response relationship.”

  Study

  meta-analysis

  Population

  Age-related macular degeneration patients and healthy subjects, pooled RCTs. Combined lutein/zeaxanthin/meso-zeaxanthin intervention.

  Lutein, Zeaxanthin and Meso-zeaxanthin Supplementation Associated with Macular Pigment Optical Density.2016PMID:27420092

• lutein — increases

  BLikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.Findingreplicated ×1

  “The LZ group showed significant increases in MPOD at all visits post-supplementation, with significant increases as early as day 42 compared to placebo.”

  Study

  RCT

  Duration

  6 months

  Dose

  gummies containing 10 mg lutein and 2 mg zeaxanthin daily for 180 days

  Population

  children aged 5-12 years

  Lutein and Zeaxanthin Supplementation Improves Dynamic Visual and Cognitive Performance in Children: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel, Placebo-Controlled Study.2024PMID:38363462An author is affiliated with a producer