Trapa bispinosa Roxb. and lutein ameliorate cataract in type 1 diabetic rats.

Trapa bispinosa Roxb. is an annual aquatic grass of the citrus family. Although its hot water extract displays antioxidative activity in vitro, little is known about its biological effectiveness. In the present study, we evaluated the extract's inhibitory effect on diabetic cataractogenesis and formation of advanced glycation end-product. Lutein, which is beneficial for eye diseases, was administered concurrently. For short-term administration, Trapa bispinosa Roxb. hot water extract and/or lutein were administered to type 1 diabetic rats. N ɛ-(carboxymethyl)lysine and N ɛ-(carboxyethyl)lysine were quantified in serum using mass spectrometry. The long-term administration study was similar to the short-term, except that the dosages were lower. In the short-term study, co-administration of the extract and lutein inhibited N ɛ-(carboxymethyl)lysine and N ɛ-(carboxyethyl)lysine in serum. However, in the long-term study, only lutein inhibited N ɛ-(carboxymethyl)lysine and N ɛ-(carboxyethyl)lysine in serum. These results suggest that lutein exerts its long-term effect regardless of the concentration administered, while the extract exerts its effect when its concentration is increased. Relative to the consumption of the control diet, oral intake of the combination of the extract and lutein significantly inhibited the progression of cataractogenesis in the lens of diabetic rats, even at low doses, and the combination was more effective than individual treatments.

Attenuation of choroidal neovascularization by dietary intake of ω-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and lutein in mice.

Dietary ω-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) and lutein each protect against age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We here examined the effects of ω-3 LCPUFAs and lutein supplementation in a mouse model of AMD. Mice were assigned to four groups: (1) a control group fed an ω-3 LCPUFA-free diet, (2) a lutein group fed an ω-3 LCPUFA-free diet with oral administration of lutein, (3) an ω-3 group fed an ω-3 LCPUFA-supplemented diet, and (4) an ω-3 + lutein group fed an ω-3 LCPUFA-supplemented diet with oral administration of lutein. Mice were fed the defined diets beginning 2 weeks before, and received lutein with an oral gavage needle beginning 1 week before, induction of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) by laser photocoagulation. The area of CNV measured in choroidal flat-mount preparations was significantly reduced in mice fed ω-3 LCPUFAs or lutein compared with those in the control group, and it was reduced in an additive manner in those receiving both ω-3 LCPUFAs and lutein. The concentrations of various inflammatory mediators in the retina or choroid were reduced in mice fed ω-3 LCPUFAs or lutein, but no additive effect was apparent. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in chorioretinal lesions revealed by dihydroethidium staining as well as the expression of NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4) in the retina revealed by immunohistofluorescence and immunoblot analyses were attenuated by ω-3 LCPUFAs and lutein in a synergistic manner. Our results thus show that dietary intake of ω-3 LCPUFAs and lutein attenuated CNV in an additive manner and in association with suppression of inflammatory mediator production, ROS generation, and Nox4 expression. Dietary supplementation with both ω-3 LCPUFAs and lutein warrants further study as a means to protect against AMD.

A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Study of Antioxidant Supplementation with Lutein for Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: To investigate functional and morphological changes in patients with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy after supplementation with antioxidants containing lutein or a placebo. PROCEDURES: One hundred eyes of 100 patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, one taking tablets with lutein plus other antioxidants and the other taking a placebo for 6 months. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and the subfoveal fluid height on optical coherence tomography were measured. RESULTS: Seventy-nine patients (37 in the supplementation and 42 in the placebo group) completed the 6-month follow-up. In the supplementation group, mean BCVA showed significant improvement (p = 0.003), while there was no significant change in the placebo group (p = 0.589). The mean subfoveal fluid height was significantly reduced, by 28.6%, in the supplementation group (p = 0.028), in contrast to 3.3% in the placebo group (p = 0.898). CONCLUSIONS: Antioxidant supplementation significantly reduced subfoveal fluid height. The impacts of antioxidant supplementation on BCVA remain to be elucidated in future studies.