Author
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Johnson, Elizabeth |
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Submitted to: Nutrition Reviews
Publication Type: Review Article Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2004 Publication Date: 1/1/2005 Citation: Johnson, E.J. 2005. Obesity, lutein metabolism, and age-related macular degeneration: A web of connections. Nutrition Reviews. 63(1):9-15. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of visual impairment in the United States. Currently there is no effective cure for this disease. Risk factors include decreased lutein and zeaxanthin status and obesity. Obesity is also an increasing public health concern. The alarming increase in the prevalence of obesity further exacerbates the public health concern of AMD. The mechanism by which obesity increases the risk of AMD may be related to the physiologic changes that occur with this condition. These include increased oxidative stress, changes in lipoprotein profile, and increase inflammation. These changes would also result in an increased destruction and a decreased circulatory delivery of lutein and zeaxanthin to the macula of the eye. Therefore, the mechanism by which obesity is related to AMD risk may be through indirect effects on changes in lutein and zeaxanthin status and metabolism. |