A Prospective Study of Neuro-Cognitive Enhancement with Carotenoids in Elderly Adult Males with Early Age Related Macular Degeneration
Kelly G. Hoffmann *
Neuro Psychology Department, Captain James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center, 3001 Green Bay Road, IL. 60064, North Chicago, USA
Stuart P. Richer
Optometry/Ophthalmology, Captain James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center, 3001 Green Bay Road, IL. 60064,North Chicago, USA
James S. Wrobel
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Health System, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology & Diabetes (MEND), USA
Eugenia Chen
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, 3333 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, USA
Carla J Podella
Captain James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center, 3001 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, USA
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Diets rich in carotenoids may reduce cognitive impairment. Little is known about dietary zeaxanthin.
Objective: Evaluate zeaxanthin carotenoid supplementation against change in cognitive status.
Methods: American Psychological Association (APA) certified cognitive evaluation from the Zeaxanthin and Vision Function Study (USFDA Investigative New DrugIND#78,973), a 1 year prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) of elderly males with mild age related macular degeneration. Neurocognitive testing Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status Update RBANS and Trail Making A & B. Subjects evaluated at baseline and 1 year after dietary isomer RR zeaxanthin (8 mg/d) alone or combined with lutein (9 mg/d) using one way ANOVA, (P<0.05) and T testing.
Results: n=50 subjects completed both study visits. Delayed memory in the zeaxanthin group improved from RBANS score of 91.8 (SD 16) to 99.4 (SD 12), P = 0.04.
Conclusions: Zeaxanthin, typically minimally present in the US diet, may nonetheless be important in the context of emerging relationships in primates between dietary xanthophyll carotenoids and cognitive function. Additional larger scale RCTs is indicated to investigate the clinical utility of this carotenoid in nutritional neuroscience.
Keywords: Age related macular degeneration, carotenoids, macular pigment, cognition