Changes in macular pigment optical density and serum concentrations of its constituent carotenoids following supplemental lutein and zeaxanthin: the LUNA study

Macular pigment (MP), consisting of lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z), is believed to protect the retina from photo-oxidative damage. The current study investigates, in terms of MP optical density (MPOD) and serum concentrations of its constituent carotenoids, response to supplemental L and Z, and co-antioxidants. An intervention (I) group, consisting of 108 subjects (mean [+/-SD] age: 71.5 [+/-7.1] years), of which 92.6% exhibited features of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), received a daily supplement consisting of 12 mg L and 1 mg Z, both provided as ester 120 mg vitamin C, 17.6 mg vitamin E, 10 mg zinc, 40 microg selenium (Ocuvite Luteintrade mark) for a period of 6 months. MPOD was measured, by 2-wavelength autofluorescence (AF), on five occasions during the period of supplementation, and once again 3 months following discontinuation of the supplement. A control (C) group of 28 subjects (mean [+/-SD] age: 71.0 [+/-8.1] years), who received no dietary supplementation or modification, was examined at baseline and once again after a mean of 29.4 (+/-9.3) weeks. At baseline, mean (+/-SD) MPOD (at 0.5 degrees) was 0.504 (+/-0.197) and 0.525 (+/-0.189) in the I and C groups, respectively. There was a statistically significant increase in MPOD (at 0.5 degrees) for the I group (0.1 [+/-0.009]; p<0.0008), whereas no significant increase was seen in the C group (0.03 [+/-0.02]; p>0.05), over the period of supplementation. In order to classify supplemented subjects into quartiles, in terms of MPOD response, we calculated the difference between MPOD (at 0.5 degrees) at visit 6 and at baseline (visit 1). Quartile 1 (the "non-responder" quartile) displayed no increase in MPOD (at 0.5 degrees), in spite of rises seen in serum concentrations of L and Z. The three "responder" quartiles reached similar final plateaus of MPOD (at 0.5 degrees), reflected in final mean (+/-SEM) values of 0.59 (+/-0.04) optical density unit (ODU), 0.64 (+/-0.03) ODU and 0.64 (+/-0.03) ODU for quartiles 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Subjects with low baseline MPOD were more likely to exhibit a dramatic rise in MPOD, or to exhibit no rise in MPOD, in response to supplements than subjects with medium to high baseline MPOD values. Supplementation with 12 mg L and 1 mg Z, combined with co-antioxidants, resulted in an increase of MPOD at 0.5 degrees eccentricity in a majority of subjects, including those afflicted with AMD. However, there remains a substantial proportion of subjects for whom, in spite of rises in serum concentrations of L and Z in these subjects, MPOD augmentation in response to supplemental L, Z and co-antioxidants could not be detected over the study period, thus indicating that intestinal malabsorption of these carotenoids is not responsible for the lack of a macular response to such supplements. Further, our results suggest that saturable mechanisms play a role in the retinal capture and/or stabilisation of the macular carotenoids.     

Role of ingestible carotenoids in skin protection: A review of clinical evidence

Carotenoids, a class of phytonutrients, have been well established to boost skin's innate resistance against ultraviolet (UV) B-induced erythema (sunburn). Many of the published clinical studies thus far have focused on the measurement of erythema as the primary clinical indicator of skin protection against UVB radiation. More recent studies have shown that carotenoid supplementation provides even more skin protection than previously shown as new clinical and molecular endpoints beyond UVB-induced erythema have been reported. These recent studies have demonstrated that carotenoids also provide photoprotection against UVA-induced pigmentation and inhibit molecular markers of oxidative stress such as intercellular adhesion molecule 1, heme oxygenase-1, and matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 9. This article provides a comprehensive review of the published clinical evidence on skin benefits of carotenoids in the last five decades and indicates new perspectives on the role of ingestible carotenoids in skin protection.     

Macular pigment optical density in wet age-related macular degeneration among Indians

PurposeTo estimate the value of macular pigment optical density (MPOD) in adult south Indian population with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).MethodsA total of 33 patients with wet AMD and 29 age-matched controls >50 years of age underwent MPOD measurement with the macular densitometer. The patients were also tested for their dietary intake of carotenoids, smoking history, and lifetime UV exposure.ResultsThe mean MPOD values in the Indian population with wet AMD was 0.23 (95% CI: 0.18-0.29) vs control was 0.43 (95% CI: 0.37-0.49), P<0.0001, at 0.5° eccentricity. Ex-smokers had a lower MPOD than non-smokers (0.16 (0.09-0.23) vs 0.28 (0.22-0.34), P=0.026) and the lowest level of carotenoids intake had 48% lower MPOD than the highest level (0.14 (0.08-0.21) vs 0.33 (0.24-0.43), P=0.012). There was no significant age-related decline or gender variation in MPOD.ConclusionThis study establishes the MPOD in adult Indian population with wet AMD, with a lack of macular pigment in association with wet AMD.     

Heritability of the spatial distribution and peak density of macular pigment: a classical twin study

Purpose

To elucidate the heritability of peak density and spatial width of macular pigment (MP) using a Classical Twin Study.

Methods

Fundus autofluorescence images were obtained at 488 nm from 86 subjects or 43 twin pairs (21 monozygotic (MZ) and 22 dizygotic (DZ)) (27 male, 59 female) aged from 55 to 76 years (mean 62.2±5.3 years). The relative topographic distribution of MP was measured using a grey scale of intensity (0–255 units) in a 7° eccentricity around the fovea. Relative peak MP density (rPMPD) and relative spatial distribution of MP (rSDMP) were used as the main outcome measure in the statistical analysis.

Results

A significantly higher correlation was found within MZ pairs as compared with that within DZ pairs for rPMPD, (r=0.99, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.93 to 1.00) and 0.22, 95% CI −0.34 to 0.71), respectively, suggesting strong heritability of this trait. When rSDMP was compared, there was no significant difference between the correlations within MZ pairs (r=0.48, 95% CI −0.02 to 0.83) and DZ pairs (r=0.63, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.83), thus rSDMP is unlikely to have a considerable heritable component. In addition, there was no difference between any MP parameter when normal maculae were compared with early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) (rPMPD 0.36 vs 0.34, t=1.18 P=0.243, rSDMP 1.75 vs 1.75, t=0.028 P=0.977).

Conclusions

rPMPD is a strongly heritable trait whereas rSDMP has minimal genetic influence and a greater influence by environmental factors. The presence of macular changes associated with early AMD did not appear to influence any of these pigment parameters.     

反溶剂法制备叶黄素酯纳米粒

目的优化叶黄素酯(LE)纳米粒(NPs)的制备工艺,并对其水溶性的改善程度进行测试。方法以四氢呋喃为溶剂,去离子水为反溶剂,泊洛沙姆188作为表面活性剂,通过反溶剂法制备LE-NPs,采用单因素实验设计法优化LE-NPs制备工艺。并综合利用扫描电子显微镜、激光粒度仪、X射线衍射、差示扫描量热法等分析方法对获得的LE-NPs理化性质进行表征;采用气相色谱(GC)进行溶剂残留测定;并进行了体外溶出对比实验。结果 LE-NPs的最优制备条件为沉积时间10 min,叶黄素酯质量浓度50 mg/mL,溶剂反溶剂体积比为1∶7,泊洛沙姆188质量分数0.5%,搅拌速率950 r/min,沉积温度25℃;所得LE-NPs为球形,平均粒径为164 nm,其中四氢呋喃残留量为344.3μg/g,低于人用药物注册技术要求国际协调会(ICH)要求的最低标准(0.780 mg/g);在人工胃液环境中LE-NPs的饱和溶解度和溶出速率分别是原药的2.91倍和9.65倍。结论反溶剂法制备的LE-NPs具有较好水溶性,在口服制剂中具有潜在的用途。     

叶黄素对二甲基甲酰胺所致小鼠急性肝损伤的保护作用

目的:用生化及病理学方法研究叶黄素对二甲基甲酰胺(DMF)所致小鼠急性肝损伤的保护作用。方法:将48只小鼠随机分为4组,分别为对照组、DMF模型组、20mg/kg及40mg/kg叶黄素处理组。小鼠连续灌胃叶黄素5天,对照组和DMF模型组给予等体积玉米油。灌胃叶黄素3天后,除对照组腹腔注射生理盐水,其余三组均一次性腹腔注射1.5g/kg DMF。DMF染毒48h后,所有动物内眦取血,处死后剖取肝脏,检测其AST、ALT等指标。结果:DMF模型组小鼠血清ALT和AST活性显著升高,肝脏组织匀浆中MDA含量明显增加,SOD活性升高。叶黄素可降低血清AST及ALT活性及肝组织SOD活性、MDA水平,改善肝脏损伤小鼠病理组织学变化。结论:叶黄素通过抗氧化作用对DMF所致肝脏毒性具有一定保护作用。     

右旋棉酚和左旋棉酚对离体大鼠黄体细胞的影响

利用大鼠黄体细胞体外培养技术,研究了右旋( )和左旋(-)棉酚对孕酮产生的影响。观察到在基础状态下,( )、(-)棉酚对孕酮产生有促进作用。浓度为20μmol/L时,孕酮产量(±SD)分别为60.3±10.1、70.2±5.1ng/10~6细胞,各自对照组分别为40.5±3.9、55.2±4.6ng/10~6细胞,差异有显著性意义(P均<0.05)。( ),(-)棉酚均抑制hCG促孕酮产生的作用,浓度为20μmol/L时,孕酮产量分别为142.5±17.8、159.2±8.6ng/10~6细胞,与各自对照组173.4±8.4、192.5±17.0ng/10~6细胞比较,差异有显著性意义(P均<0.01)。     

女性附件出血性肿块的超声诊断

目的 估价超声在女性附件出血性肿块中的诊断价值。方法用二维超声及彩色多普勒血流成像仪对98例附年出血性病人进行多切面扫查。结果 在全组98例中超声诊断符合率为91.8%(90/98)；4例误诊。结论 本法可根据声像图及彩色多普勒血流成像中特征提供附件出血的真实信息，并对临床诊断具有重要价值。     

Compared to an Oatmeal Breakfast,Two Eggs/Day Increased Plasma Carotenoids and Choline without Increasing Trimethyl Amine N-Oxide Concentrations

Background: Habitual consumption of eggs has been hypothesized to positively modify biomarkers of cardiovascular disease risk through proposed antioxidant properties.

Objectives: To examine this relationship, 50 young, healthy men and women were enrolled into a randomized crossover clinical intervention.

Methods: Participants consumed either 2 eggs per day or one packet of oatmeal a day for 4 weeks, followed by a 3-week wash-out and crossed over to the alternate breakfast. Fasting blood samples and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected at the end of each intervention period.

Results: Increases in plasma large high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and large low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle concentrations as measured by nuclear magnetic resonance were found following egg consumption (p < 0.001, p < 0.05), respectively, with increases in apolipoprotein concentration as well (p < 0.05). Though there was no difference in the intake of antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, a significant increase in plasma concentrations of these carotenoids was observed (p < 0.001) after egg consumption. There was no change in lecithin–cholesterol acyl transferase, cholesteryl ester transfer protein, or paroxanase-1 arylesterase activities between breakfast interventions. Dietary and plasma choline were both higher following egg consumption compared to oatmeal consumption (p < 0.001); however, there was no change in plasma trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) concentrations. Two eggs per day had no impact on PBMC gene expression related to cholesterol metabolism, oxidation, or TMAO production.

Conclusions: These results suggest that compared to oatmeal, consumption of 2 eggs for breakfast provided increased plasma carotenoids and improved biomarkers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk while not affecting TMAO levels in this population.