Background-It has been suggested that eating green leafy vegetables, which are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, may decrease the risk for age related macular degeneration. The goal of this study was to analyse various fruits and vegetables to establish which ones contain lutein and/or zeaxanthin and can serve as possible dietary supplements for these carotenoids. Methods-Homogenates of 33 fruits and vegetables, two fruit juices, and egg yolk were used for extraction of the carotenoids with hexane. Measurement of the different carotenoids and their isomers was carried out by high performance liquid chromatography using a single column with an isocratic run, and a diode array detector. Results-Egg yolk and maize (corn) contained the highest mole percentage (% of total) of lutein and zeaxanthin (more than 85% of the total carotenoids). Maize was the vegetable with the highest quantity of lutein (60% of total) and orange pepper was the vegetable with the highest amount of zeaxanthin (37% of total). Substantial amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin (30-50%) were also present in kiwi fruit, grapes, spinach, orange juice, zucchini (or vegetable marrow), and diVerent kinds of squash. The results show that there are fruits and vegetables of various colours with a relatively high content of lutein and zeaxanthin. Conclusions-Most of the dark green leafy vegetables, previously recommended for a higher intake of lutein and zeaxanthin, have 15-47% of lutein, but a very low content (0-3%) of zeaxanthin. Our study shows that fruits and vegetables of various colours can be consumed to increase dietary intake of lutein and zeaxanthin. (Br J Ophthalmol 1998;82:907-910)

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Most of the carotenoids in the human peripheral retina are present in the ROS. These ROS carotenoids are associated with soluble or salt-dependently bound proteins.

Macular pigment (MP) distribution profiles were measured for 18 subjects using a Moreland anomaloscope modified for motion photometry. The total amount of MP within the central 7 degrees was estimated from the distribution profile by numerical integration. Fundus autofluorescence images were obtained for eight of these subjects using a scanning laser ophthalmoscope. Peak optical density of MP increased with the total amount present, but the correlation was weakened by inter-subject differences in MP distribution. The mean MP distribution derived from mean grey-scale profiles of fundus autofluorescence images correlated closely with that obtained psychophysically (r=0.96). Autofluorescence imaging provides a fast non-invasive method for assessing MP in vivo.

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Purpose Clinical investigations have demonstrated variation in both the peak optical density and the spatial distribution of macular pigment. To confirm these impressions histologically, the present study examined the distribution of macular pigment in the human retina. Materials and Methods The macular retina of 11 donor eyes of different ages (28-91years) were examined histologically on 100 lm vibratome sections directly, without further staining. Measurements were made in two dimensions: (1) adding the number of macular sections with visible macular pigment, and (2) direct measurement of the extension of macular pigment in the foveolar section, which visibly contained the most macular pigment. Results The measurements with two methods demonstrated good correlation. The macula demonstrated a variation in the spatial extension of the visible macular pigment between 200 and 900 lm diameter around the centre of the fovea, which was also found when direct measurements were taken. There was no correlation with the donor age. The main location of macular pigment was in the layer of the fibres of Henle in the fovea and in the inner nuclear layer at the parafoveal site. Conclusions Histologically, a wide variation of the spatial distribution of macular pigment was found that confirms clinical observations. The primary localization of human macular pigment is in the inner retinal layers.

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