Nutraceutical: Lutein/Zeaxanthin

Indication: Cataract Surgery

Source: JAMA Ophthalmology, 2013; 1-7

Research: Age-related cataract is a leading cause of visual impairment in the U.S. The prevalence of age-related cataract is increasing, with an estimated 30.1 million Americans likely to be affected by 2020. For this study, researchers aimed to determine whether daily oral supplementation with lutein/zeaxanthin affects the risk for cataract surgery. The study utilized the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2), a multicenter, double-masked clinical trial. Participants were randomly assigned to daily placebo; lutein/zeaxanthin, 10 mg/2 mg; omega 3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, 1 gram; or a combination to evaluate the effects on the primary outcome of progression to advanced age-related macular degeneration.

Results: A total of 3,159 AREDS2 participants were phakic in at least 1 eye and 1,389 of 6,027 study eyes underwent cataract surgery during the study, with median follow-up of 4.7 years. The 5-year probability of progression to cataract surgery in the no lutein/zeaxanthin group was 24%. For lutein/zeaxanthin vs. no lutein/zeaxanthin, the hazard ratios for progression to cataract surgery was 0.96 (95% CI, 0.84-1.10;P = .54). For participants in the lowest quintile of dietary intake of lutein/zeaxanthin, the hazard ratio comparing lutein/zeaxanthin vs. no lutein/zeaxanthin for progression to cataract surgery was 0.68 (95% CI, 0.48-0.96; P = .03). The hazard ratio for 3 or more lines of vision loss was 1.03 (95% CI, 0.93-1.13;P = .61 for lutein/zeaxanthin vs. no lutein/zeaxanthin). Researchers concluded that daily supplementation with lutein/zeaxanthin had no statistically significant overall effect on rates of cataract surgery or vision loss.