[Special Op-ed] Lutein supplements, take it only if you need it!
[Special Op-ed] Lutein supplements, take it only if you need it!
  • 글·박규형 분당서울대병원 안과 교수ㅣ번역·김성혜 인턴기자 (desk@k-health.com)
  • 승인 2020.08.25 15:27
  • 댓글 0
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Lutein supplements, unhelpful in preventing macular degeneration and protecting the eyes of a healthy person
Professor Park Kyu Hyung from the ophthalmology department of the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital
Professor Park Kyu Hyung from the ophthalmology department of the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital

# Mr. Kim (40 years old) works at an IT company and so, looking into a computer monitor all day has become his daily routine. Even at home after work, he cannot help but stick to his smartphone until late at night. However, things have recently begun to look blurry as if presbyopia occurred. Just in time, TV commercials convincing how lutein supplements are good for the eyes made him purchase the products. As symptoms seemed to ease after taking them, he recommended them to his friends and gave them to his parents for holiday gifts. Since he thought the earlier take the better, he even recommended taking the supplements to his nearsighted, young nephews.

I have seen many patients already taking various lutein supplements due to commercials and recommendations from people around them. This is because concerns regarding eye health arose as computer and smartphone use increased. Can taking lutein supplements every day prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a healthy person?

Before answering this question, knowing what lutein is should come first. Lutein is a type of plant pigment called xanthophyll and is one of more than 600 naturally occurring carotenoids. Carotenoids help photosynthesis of plants and prevent damage from UV rays. Then how is lutein, a type of plant pigments, beneficial to human eyes?

The answer is at the component of pigment in the retina inside of the eyes. The most important part of the retina, which composes a central vision (or make a precise image of an object), is the macular lutea area. The macular lutea is a small yellowish area of the retina. It has many yellow pigments that protect themselves from harmful rays such as UV rays and blue light. The main components of this pigment in the macula lutea are lutein and zeaxanthin.

In other words, the fact that the most important part of the eyes for central vision is macular lutea, and the main components of the pigment protecting it are lutein and zeaxanthin, establish the hypothesis of taking lutein supplements being good for the eyes. This has led to more than hundreds of lutein supplements on sale, emphasizing the benefits for eye health and aging prevention. Not only adults but also many children and teenagers take the supplements as a daily routine.

Then, are lutein supplements necessary for preserving eye health and preventing eye aging? There is no specific recommended daily allowance of lutein. But for safety, taking less than 20mg a day is recommended. In short, lutein is not considered as an essential nutrient by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety or FDA.

According to research on antioxidant vitamin supplements (high concentration of vitamin supplement with 10mg of lutein) for AMD patients led by US National Institutes of Health (National Eye Institute), when moderate dry AMD patients consumed antioxidant vitamin supplements, rate of progression to advanced AMD decreased compared to those who did not take the antioxidant supplements. Based on this randomized clinical study results, patients with moderate (or worse) dry AMD are recommended to take antioxidant vitamin supplements that contain lutein and zeaxanthin daily.

In South Korea, the National Health and Nutrition Survey revealed that the prevalence of AMD in adults over 40 years old was 6.6%, which means about 93% of adults over 40 do not have AMD. This implies that if an adult who is over 40 takes lutein supplements without having done an eye exam by ophthalmologists, he/she is taking an unnecessary drug. No evidence proves that taking any type of supplements helps to maintain eye health or prevent eye aging and AMD for healthy people who do not have diseases such as AMD.

To make a long story short, people who do not have AMD, do not need to take lutein supplements for eye health and aging/AMD preventions.

If so, what is the best way to maintain eye health for normal people? Before considering taking drugs or supplements with uncertain effects, initially manage lifestyles harmful to eye health.

First, quit smoking. Smoking is harmful to almost all eye diseases, especially for macula diseases. Second, maintain appropriate weight by regular exercise. This is beneficial for not only eye health but also for preventing other diseases. Third, consume healthy meals like the Mediterranean diets that are of green leafy vegetables and fish. Lastly, receive eye exams regularly when over the age of 50. The earlier eye-related diseases are detected, the more possibility of maintaining eye health and vision.

If you insist on still taking lutein supplements after following the recommended lifestyle modifications above, then I hope you take it as a type of daily vitamin supplement with unspecified effects.

I am an ophthalmologist in my 50s with a specialty in retinal diseases including age-related macular degeneration. In my early 40s, I began wearing multifocal glasses due to presbyopia, and fortunately, I am still maintaining healthy eyes without AMD even after 10 years of wearing glasses. I do not feel the need to take lutein supplements or other vitamins after quit smoking, regularly exercising, and trying to eat meals with plenty of vegetables and an adequate amount of fish and meat.



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