The Effects of Lutein and Zeaxanthin Supplementation on Brain Morphology in Older Adults: A Randomized, Controlled Trial
Open accessAbstract
A growing literature emphasizes the importance of lifestyle factors such as nutrition in successful aging. The current study examined if one year of supplementation with lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z), two nutrients with known antioxidative properties and cognitive benefits, impacted structural brain outcomes in older adults using a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial design. Community-dwelling older adults (20 males and 27 females) aged 65–87 years (M = 71.8 years, SD = 6.04 years) were randomized into supplement (N = 33) and placebo groups (N = 14) using simple randomization. The supplement group received 10 mg L + 2 mg Z daily for 12 months while the placebo group received a visually identical, inert placebo. L and Z were measured via retinal concentrations (macular pigment optical density or MPOD). Structural brain outcomes, focusing on global and frontal-temporal lobe regions, were acquired using both T1-weighted and DTI MRI sequences. We hypothesized that the supplement group would increase, maintain, or show attenuated loss in hypothesized regions-of-interest (ROIs) while the placebo group would show age-related declines in brain structural integrity over the course of the trial. While results showed age-related declines for frontal and temporal gray and white matter volumes, as well as fornix white matter microstructure across both groups, only minimal differences were found between the supplement and placebo groups. However, exploratory analyses showed that individuals who responded better to supplementation (i.e., showed greater increases in MPOD) showed less decline in global and prefrontal gray matter volume than supplement “nonresponders.” While results suggest that one year of L and Z supplementation may have limited effects on structural brain outcomes overall, there may be a subsample of individuals for whom supplementation of L and Z provides greater benefits. ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02023645.
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Improved cognitive functions were observed in elderly patients supplemented for one year with a mixture of lutein and zeaxanthin (12 mg/day), albeit not significant compared to the placebo group.
“Accordingly, improved cognitive functions were observed in elderly patients supplemented for one year with a mixture of lutein and zeaxanthin (12 mg/day), albeit not significant compared to the placebo group [162,163].”
From The Role of Antioxidants in the Interplay between Oxidative Stress and Senescence (2022) · cites this paper as [163]
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- Authors
- Mewborn, C. M., Lindbergh, C. A., Hammond, B. R., Renzi-Hammond, L. M., & Miller, L. S.
- Affiliations
- University of Georgia (US)
- Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30605, USA
- Corresponding author
- Miller, L. Stephen
- Venue
- Journal of Aging Research
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2019-12-01
- Volume
- 2019
- Pages
- 1-11
- ISSN
- 2090-2204 (ISSN-L)
- 2090-2212
- PMC
- PMC6913342
- OpenAlex
- W2992515665
- Cited by
- 20
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2025: 8 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 3
- FWCI
- 1.59
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Aging Research (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Abbott Nutrition
- University of Georgia's Bio-Imaging Research Center
- DSM Nutritional Products
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Ophthalmology › Retinal Diseases and Treatments
- Keywords
- lutein, zeaxanthin, dietary supplementation, brain structure, older adults, gray matter volume, white matter microstructure, fornix, macular pigment optical density, prefrontal cortex, successful aging
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