The impact of supplemental macular carotenoids in Alzheimer's disease : A randomized clinical trial

Nolan, John M. and Loskutova, Ekaterina and Howard, Alan and Mulcahy, Riona and Moran, Rachel and Stack, Jim and Bolger, Maggie and Coen, Robert F. and Dennison, Jessica and Akuffo, Kwadwo Owusu and Owens, Niamh and Power, Rebecca and Thurnham, David and Beatty, Stephen (2015) The impact of supplemental macular carotenoids in Alzheimer's disease : A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 44 (4). pp. 1157-1169. ISSN 1387-2877

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Abstract

Background: Patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) exhibit significantly less macular pigment (MP) and poorer vision when compared to control subjects. Objective: To investigate supplementation with the macular carotenoids on MP, vision, and cognitive function in patients with AD versus controls. Methods: A randomized, double-blind clinical trial with placebo and active arms. 31 AD patients and 31 age-similar control subjects were supplemented for six months with either Macushield (10 mg meso-zeaxanthin [MZ]; 10 mg lutein [L]; 2mg zeaxanthin [Z]) or placebo (sunflower oil). MP was measured using dual-wavelength autofluorescence (Heidelberg Spectralis®). Serum L, Z, andMZwere quantified by high performance liquid chromatography. Visual function was assessed by best corrected visual acuity and contrast sensitivity (CS). Cognitive function was assessed using a battery of cognition tests, including the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). Results: Subjects on the active supplement (for both AD and non-AD controls) exhibited statistically significant improvement in serum concentrations of L, Z, MZ, and MP (p < 0.001, for all) and also CS at (p = 0.039). Also, for subjects on the active supplement, paired samples t-tests exhibited four significant results (from five spatial frequencies tested) in the AD group, and two for the non-AD group, and all indicating improvements in CS. We found no significant changes in any of the cognitive function outcome variables measured (p > 0.05, for all). Conclusion: Supplementation with the macular carotenoids (MZ, Z, and L) benefits patients with AD, in terms of clinically meaningful improvements in visual function and in terms of MP augmentation.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Funding Information: We would like to thank the Howard Foundation, Cambridge, CB22 5LA, United Kingdom for supporting this research. We would like to acknowledge Cambridge Cognition, UK for guidance with respect to the assessment of cognitive function. Also, we would like to thank all the staff at the UHW, Age-Related Care Unit and at the Vision Research Centre, Waterford Institute of Technology for assisting this study. Funding Information: The Principal Investigator (Professor John M Nolan) is supported by the European Research Council (ERC) (CREST 281096). Publisher Copyright: © 2015 - IOS Press and the authors.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2800
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Depositing User:	Admin SSL
Date Deposited:	19 Oct 2022 23:09
Last Modified:	05 Aug 2023 19:10
URI:	http://repository-testing.wit.ie/id/eprint/4393

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