The Relationship Between Lutein Levels and Body Fat

The carotenoid lutein has been shown to have protective functions for the retina, lens, and brain. Lutein is the primary carotenoid in the brain, and preferentially accumulates in the retina of the eye. Opportunely, accumulation in the eye and in the brain are closely correlated. This correlation allows us to measure the amount of lutein in the brain using noninvasive examination of the retina to determine Macular Pigment Optical Density (MPOD), which has been found to significantly correlate to measures of processing speed - a key aspect of cognitive function. Increased amounts of body fat have been shown to hinder MPOD values by sequestering lutein, blocking the individual from receiving full cognitive benefits. Unfortunately, these studies have only been conducted thus far in individuals of healthy weight status. Thus, the objective of this research was to examine the relationship between total body fat, MPOD, and serum lutein in adults with a wide range of BMI’s. Our sample includes middle-aged adults (25-45 years) who are overweight or obese. Total body fat mass and BMI was collected by dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry Serum lutein was collected using liquid chromatography, and retinal lutein was assessed using heterochromatic flicker photometry. As lutein is fat-soluble, we hypothesize that lutein levels in both the bloodstream and the retina will be lower in increasingly overweight individuals as the carotenoids will be sequestered away by stores of adipose tissue.Ope