Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine cross-sectional associations among intake of xanthophyll carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin (L self-reported L total intake; macular pigment optical volume (MPOV; in 2WAF); non-fasting plasma L and HDL and LDL cholesterol. Associations were adjusted for age and HDL/LDL. Results: We studied 369 persons (74 ± 5.8 years, 60% women, 89% White, 62% never-smoker, and 23% supplement use) and 369 eyes (48.4% healthy, 26.0% early AMD eAMD, and 25.2% intermediate AMD iAMD). Diagnostic groups differed in supplement users (10%, 17%, and 56%), total L moderate between total intake and plasma L weaker but significant for L&Z intake, and MPOV (r = 0.22-0.30, P < 0.01) of 3-mm-diameter macula lutea only, for eAMD and iAMD. Conclusions: In a large US sample, we assess for the first time L&Z intake from diet and supplements and determined the relative strength of correlations among intake, plasma, and retinal xanthophylls. We replicate our earlier finding of elevated retinal and plasma L&Z in iAMD. LZQ and 2WAF are suitable outcome measures for future interventions that directly test the impact of L&Z on AMD onset and progression.
Curcio et al. (Tue,) studied this question.