Lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin supplementation attenuates inflammatory cytokines and markers of oxidative cardiovascular processes in humans

• Published in: Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases, 2024-08, Vol.34 (8), p.1976-1983
• Main Authors: Stringham, Nicole T., Green, Marina, Roche, Warren, Prado-Cabrero, Alfonso, Mulcahy, Riona, Nolan, John
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - administration & dosage; Antioxidants - administration & dosage; Atherosclerosis; Atherosclerosis - blood; Atherosclerosis - prevention & control; Biomarkers - blood; Carotenoids; Cytokines - blood; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; IL-1β; Inflammation - blood; Inflammation - prevention & control; Inflammation Mediators - blood; Interleukin-1beta - blood; Interleukin-6 - blood; Lipoproteins, LDL - blood; Lutein - administration & dosage; Lutein - blood; Macular xanthophyll; Male; Middle Aged; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Oxidized LDL; TNF-α; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - blood; Xanthophylls - administration & dosage; Xanthophylls - blood; Zeaxanthins - administration & dosage; Zeaxanthins - blood
• ISSN: 0939-4753; 1590-3729; 1590-3729
• DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2024.05.009

Systemic inflammation and oxidation are primary contributors to the development of atherosclerosis. Oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles within the vascular endothelium has been hypothesized to be an initial step in the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, with inflammatory cytokines serving as the signaling mechanism for concomitant macrophage activation. Supplementation with the antioxidative macular xanthophylls (lutein [L], zeaxanthin [Z], and meso-zeaxanthin [MZ]) has been shown to aid in the reduction of inflammatory physiologic responses; therefore, we hypothesized that in our study population, supplementation with these xanthophylls would facilitate a systemic reduction in markers of inflammation and cardiovascular lipid oxidation. In this double-blind placebo-controlled supplementation study, participants were randomly allocated to receive the active intervention containing L (10 mg) + MZ (10 mg) + Z (2 mg) or placebo (containing sunflower oil). Serum concentrations of carotenoids (assessed by HPLC), inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α) and oxidized LDL (OxLDL; by solid-phase sandwich ELISA) were measured at baseline and at 6-months. Results showed that over the supplementation period, compared to placebo, the active group demonstrated statistically significant increases in serum concentrations of L, Z, & MZ (p