What are Lutein, Zeaxanthin, and Meso-Zeaxanthin?
Lutein, Zeaxanthin, and Meso-Zeaxanthin are plant-based nutrients called carotenoids. Carotenoids are the natural pigments that give vegetables, fruits, and other plants their colour (red, orange, yellow, and green). Carotenoids are not produced by the human body, meaning we need to consume them through our diet.
All three of these nutrients are found in high concentrations in the macula of the human eye. In our diet they are found in dark-green leafy vegetables, colourful fruits and fish. The macula, a small area at the centre of the retina that contains the highest concentration of photoreceptor cells, is a very important part of the eye. It gives us all of the fine and detailed vision we need for precision tasks such as reading and writing, seeing faces, as well as our colour vision. In fact, lutein, meso-zeaxanthin and zeaxanthin each contribute to the macula’s yellow colour.
Why are Zeaxanthin and Meso-Zeaxanthin so important?
The area where carotenoids gather in our eye is called the macular pigment. This yellow protective layer protects the macula from damage. When working at its best, the macular pigment filters blue light, and reduces oxidative stress caused by ageing, protecting the macula from daily damage. For years scientists thought Lutein was the only carotenoid to gather at the macular pigment. However, recent studies at Nutrition Research Centre Ireland have proven that the macular pigment is in fact made up of Lutein, Zeaxanthin and Meso-Zeaxanthin.
How can I get Lutein, Zeaxanthin, and Meso-Zeaxanthin in my Diet?
A healthy diet including dark-green leafy vegetables, eggs and fruit are a good source of Lutein and Zeaxanthin.
However, it is really difficult for us to consume Meso-Zeaxanthin through our diet as it is only available in trout skin. So boosting your diet with a daily carotenoid supplement, such as MacuPrime, is an easy way to make sure you are getting the recommended 10mg Meso-Zeaxanthin as well as 10mg Lutein, and 2 mg Zeaxanthin for good macular health.
Did you know?
You would need to eat 1.7 cups of kale, 11,904 whole trout and 1.8 cups of orange pepper every day, to get the recommended daily carotenoid dose . (10mg Lutein, 10mg Meso-Zeaxanthin and 2mg Zeaxanthin)
