Lutein, to eat or not to eat?

In nature, plants, algae and other organisms exist a class of substances that humans and most animals cannot synthesize on their own - carotenoids, and lutein is a type of carotenoid. Luteolin is one of the carotenoids. Although there are more than 850 known carotenoids, only a few of them can be absorbed and used by human tissues. Lutein is one of the carotenoids we will talk about today.

Technically speaking, lutein refers to carotenoids xanthophy II, which includes lutein and its isomers Zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin. Although they have different names, they all belong to the class of lutein (xanthophy II) and can be converted to each other and coexist in a certain ratio. Can you tell the difference between the molecular formulas of the three different types of lutein?

The three lutein-like substances and the relationship between them may not be well understood at first glance. Let's make an analogy, the three lutein-like substances are like the Digas Otters with three forms: Complex, Powerful and Aerial, and can be transformed into each other when dealing with different monsters. However, most of the time, when we talk about the Diga Autos, it is often the compound form that is most often seen. Combined type of form most often comes to mind. Similarly, what we generally call lutein is actually one of them: lutein (lutein), in order to facilitate the understanding of small partners In order to facilitate understanding, the lutein mentioned after this article refers to lutein alone.

The effect of lutein on the eyes

Lutein is absorbed into the eye and distributed mainly in the macular region of the retina, which is the most sensitive and important location for us to see. Among them, lutein is mainly found in the The lutein is mainly in the peripheral part of the macula, while the zeaxanthin is more in the mid-periphery, and the endocanthin is in the most central part of the macula.

Together they make up the MP macular pigment, which is very important for the protection of our retinal cells. It is these macular pigments that play a very important role in the protection of our retinal cells. Therefore, MPOD macular pigment optical density is sometimes used to measure the anti-oxidative capacity and health of our retinal cells. The lutein has a very important protective effect on the retinal cells. What exactly are the protective effects of lutein?

1. Antioxidant effect

In our daily life, our eyes are exposed to harmful substances called reactive oxygen radicals, such as superoxide anions, hydroperoxyl radicals, hydroxyl radicals These radicals, such as superoxide anion, hydroperoxide radical, hydroxyl radical, etc., carry very unstable unpaired electrons. They are like a group of energetic but very rebellious young people in our retinal tissues, and they roam around the retinal tissues. They are like a group of energetic but rebellious middle-aged social youths roaming in our retinal tissues, and very savagely grabbing electrons from the surface of normal tissue cells, thus causing redox reactions and damaging our retinal tissue cells. Luteolin can be the first to "feed" electrons to these free radicals before they take the electrons from the cells, soothing their restless hearts and making these reactive oxygen radicals become stable. Thus, it can protect the retinal cells and antioxidant effect.

2. Anti-blue light effect

Since lutein is originally yellowish, it can absorb light with a wavelength of about 460nm, which is just in the range of blue light. When our eyes are exposed to too much blue light When our eyes are exposed to too much blue light, a lot of reactive oxygen species will be generated in the retina, causing oxidation reactions and accelerating retinal cell damage. Therefore, proper supplementation of lutein Therefore, proper supplementation of lutein is equivalent to wearing a pair of anti-blue light glasses for the eyes.

3. Improve cell signaling

A number of studies have found that lutein has the ability to improve visual quality and cognitive power in the visual cortex of the brain. This may be because lutein can act as an electrolyte supplement in the The lutein can act as an electrolyte replenishment in the linkage area between cells and increase the charging and firing rate of retinal and optic nerve cells, thus adding a speed-up "buff" to the retinal cells and visual cortical cells of the brain. This adds a speed-up "buff" to retinal cells and visual cortical cells. At the same time, lutein also has certain anti-inflammatory effects and promotes the repair of retinal cells after inflammatory reactions.

Because of the above functions, lutein is useful in preventing and delaying some retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glucose retinopathy, high myopia In addition, studies have found that older adults with high plasma lutein levels have a higher incidence and progression of nuclear cataracts than those with high plasma lutein levels. The incidence and progression of nuclear cataract is significantly reduced in older adults with high plasma lutein levels.

Should my child take extra lutein supplements or not?

Dr. Yang's personal opinion (my personal opinion only, not representing my hospital and other colleagues): If the child has an overall healthy diet, no picky eating habits, and If the child has a healthy diet, is not a picky eater, and has a relatively short eye axis, and is not at risk for fundus pathology (e.g., family history of high myopia, history of retinopathy of prematurity, etc.), there is not much need for additional lutein supplementation. 

If the child is a picky eater, has a low intake of fruits and vegetables, or is already highly myopic, and if the doctor's evaluation reveals that the retina is not very healthy, and is at risk of high myopia, supplementation is not necessary. If the child is at risk of high myopia, additional lutein supplements can be given on top of the regular diet. However, the main purpose of giving lutein to children should be nutrition and However, the main purpose of giving lutein to children should be nutrition and protection of retinal cells in the fundus, not to prevent and control myopia. As I said earlier, there is still no very good scientific evidence to support that lutein can prevent and control myopia. Lutein can prevent and control myopia. In adults, especially in older adults after the age of 60, additional supplementation is needed to prevent the early onset of age-related disorders (AMD). Lutein supplementation is needed to protect the cells in the macula of the retina.

To conclude, lutein itself is not an IQ tax for eye health, it does have good eye protection properties. However, its function is more as a nutritional aid. However, its function is more as a nutritional aid, and it is still too early to use it as the mainstay of myopia prevention and control.