Lutein is a kind of natural substance widely existing in vegetables, flowers, fruits and other plants, belonging to "carotenoid B" category. At present, there are more than 600 kinds of carrot B in nature, of which only about 20 kinds exist in human blood and tissues. Carrot B substances found in human body mainly include D- Carrot B and P- Carrot B. Cryptflavin, lutein, lycopene and norphycoerythrin. Medical experiments have proved that natural lutein contained in plants is an excellent antioxidant. Adding a certain amount of lutein to food can prevent cell aging and organ aging, and at the same time prevent vision loss and blindness caused by macular degeneration in the elderly. Through a series of medical studies, carotenoid B has been suggested to be used as cancer preventive, life-prolonging agent and ulcer inhibitor. At the same time, lutein can also be used as feed additive for coloring poultry meat and eggs, and also used as coloring and nutritional health care agent in food industry.
Lutein effect
1. Protect your eyesight
Lutein has an important protective effect on macular in retina, which can easily lead to macular degeneration and blurred vision, and then lead to symptoms such as decreased vision and myopia. Lutein is the precursor of NA, which can be converted into VA in human body. The main physiological functions of lutein on eyes are antioxidation and photoprotection. Optic nerve is non-renewable and vulnerable to harmful free radicals. The antioxidant effect of lutein can inhibit the formation of harmful free radicals. Lutein can absorb a lot of blue light, and the wavelength of blue visible light is close to that of ultraviolet light, which is the potentially most harmful light that can reach the retina. Before the light reaches the sensitive cells on the retina, it will pass through the area with the highest lutein accumulation. If the lutein content in the macula is rich, this damage can be minimized.
2. Anti-oxygen function
The strong oxidation of lutein can inhibit the activity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and prevent ROS from damaging normal cells. Related experiments have proved that ROS can react with DNA, protein, lipids and so on, weakening its physiological functions, and then causing chronic diseases such as cancer, arteriosclerosis and age-related jaundice. Lutein can inactivate singlet oxygen by physical or chemical quenching, thus protecting the body from harm and enhancing the immune ability of the body.
3. Reduce the incidence of cataract.
Cataract is the main eye disease leading to blindness all over the world. The latest research proves that the birth rate can be achieved by increasing the intake of lutein. At present, it is believed that the mechanism is that the lower macular pigment density in middle-aged and elderly people is closely related to the higher lens visual density, which is considered to be an obvious feature of cataract.
4. Delay arteriosclerosis
Recent research results show that lutein can delay the early process of arteriosclerosis. Mainly the relationship between the change of intima thickness of arterial trunk and lutein content in blood. Low lutein content in blood is easy to cause arterial wall thickening. With the gradual increase of lutein content, the thickening trend of arterial wall is weakened, and arterial embolism is also significantly reduced. At the same time, lutein in arterial wall cells can also reduce the oxidation of LDL cholesterol.
5. Anti-cancer effect
Many studies have shown that lutein can inhibit many cancers, such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, rectal cancer, skin cancer and so on. The latest research from the School of Pharmacy of new york University shows that reducing the incidence of breast cancer is closely related to lutein intake. It was found that the incidence of breast cancer in the experimental group with low lutein intake was (2.08 ~ 2.2 1) times higher than that in the high lutein intake group. This effect may involve indirect immune regulation in coordination with other organs and tissues. The study concluded that lutein intake in the diet can not only inhibit cancer, but also prevent the occurrence of tumors. The relevant institutions suggest that the relative risk of cancer can be reduced by 50% by taking 400 g~600 g of fruits and vegetables per person every day.
Related research literature
In 1. 1.988, Dr. Han Deer Munji, Drachea, Reaycc, Van Cuicchi, etc. The research of Harvard University found that the higher the lutein concentration in human retina, the stronger the visual sensitivity.
2. 1988 The eye disease case management team of Harvard University studied the relationship between age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and lutein intake. The patients were divided into three groups, and the daily lutein intake was below 30mg, 10mg and 3mg respectively. Daily intake of lutein (30mg 140 days) increased retinal pigment by 20 ~ 40% on average, and the visual acuity of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP) was significantly improved. However, the treatment rate between the 30 mg intake group and the 3 mg intake group was 86%.
3.1990 Dr. Bauno, Vinding T, Krogh E et al. Within four years, he completed the vision research of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) funded by the British royal family. Reports have pointed out that the antioxidant effect of lutein can protect retina and prevent AMD.
4. 1995 The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved lutein as a food supplement for food and beverages.
Biophysicists at the Russian National Medical University believe that the gradual oxidation of lens cell membrane by free radicals is the main cause of senile cataract. When the average daily intake of lutein is 6.0mg, cataract surgery can be significantly reduced.
6. According to Xinmin Evening News reported on June 16, 2002, western nutritionists finally solved the mystery that the myopia rate of rural students is much lower than that of urban students: the occurrence of myopia is closely related to the intake of a nutrient called lutein. Rural children eat vegetables directly in the field every day, so their lutein intake is very sufficient. However, urban children usually eat high-protein and nutritious food and rarely eat fresh green vegetables, so the intake of lutein is much less than that of rural children. This is the main reason for the huge difference in vision between urban and rural children.
7. The case-control study of ophthalmopathy (EDCC) investigated 39 cases of wet age-related macular degeneration (KOC-0) and 578 normal people as controls. The first report found that the risk of age-related macular degeneration decreased significantly with the increase of lutein concentration in serum. The second report found that people with the highest lutein intake (6 mg) had significantly lower risk of age-related macular degeneration than those with the lowest lutein intake (2 mg). In the dietary survey, it is found that regular consumption of spinach and kale (the richest source of lutein in the diet) can also reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration. The results of the two studies are quite consistent, indicating that age-related macular degeneration is directly related to lutein intake.
8.Olmedilla, B., Granado, F., Blanco, I., Vaquero, M., Cajigal, C. Lutein supplementation in patients with cataract and age-related macular degeneration has been studied for a long time. This paper was published in Journal of Food and Agricultural Science (8 1 (9): 904). Patients diagnosed with cataract (CA)(n=5) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD)(n=5) take three lutein capsules a week (each capsule contains 12mg lutein). The average replenishment time of AMD is 13 months (the range is 4- 10 months), and that of CA is 26 months (the range is 65438+). Blood samples were collected every 3 months to analyze lutein level and record vision level. The results showed that the lutein level in serum increased significantly after 3-6 months. Visual acuity test shows that the average visual acuity has improved by 0.4, and the visual acuity has also improved.
9.G Dagnelie, I Zorge, T M McDonald conducted a study on improving the visual function of patients with retinitis pigmentosa through the Internet, and the paper was published in the Journal of the American Optometrists Association (71(3):147-164 2000). Objective: To verify the effect of lutein supplementation on visual acuity, central visual field and visual acuity of patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The method is to recruit participants from all over the world by email. 16 participants (13 RP patients and 3 other retinitis patients) were supplemented with lutein for 26 weeks (40 mg/day in the first 9 weeks and 20 mg/day in the last 9 weeks). The subjects measured their vision through a computer screen, and the expansion of the central visual field was measured through a wall chart. Results: The visual acuity of the subjects was improved by 0.75dB on average, and the central visual field of the patients who only supplemented lutein was greatly improved (0.55dB).