The literature on risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases showed that lutein might be beneficial for atherosclerosis and inflammatory markers , but there were inconsistent associations with blood pressure , adiposity , insulin resistance , and blood lipids .
CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that higher dietary intake and higher blood concentrations of lutein are generally associated with better cardiometabolic health .
BACKGROUND The antioxidant lutein is suggested as being beneficial to cardiometabolic health because of its protective effect against oxidative stress , but evidence has not systematic ally been evaluated .
OBJECTIVE We aim ed to evaluate systematic ally the effects of lutein ( intake or concentrations ) on cardiometabolic outcomes in different life stages .
Effects of lutein and lycopene on carotid intima-media thickness in Chinese subjects with subclinical atherosclerosis: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of lutein and lycopene supplementation on carotid artery intima-media thickness ( C AIM T ) in subjects with sub clinical atherosclerosis . A total of 144 subjects aged 45 - 68 years were recruited from local communities . All the subjects were r and omly assigned to receive 20 mg lutein/d ( n 48 ) , 20 mg lutein/d+20 mg lycopene/d ( n 48 ) or placebo ( n 48 ) for 12 months . C AIM T was measured using  Doppler ultrasonography at baseline and after 12 months , and serum lutein and lycopene concentrations were determined using HPLC . Serum lutein concentrations increased significantly from 0·34 to 1·96 μmol/l in the lutein group ( P < 0·001 ) and from 0·35 to 1·66 μmol/l in the combination group ( P < 0·001 ) . Similarly , serum lycopene concentrations increased significantly from 0·18 to 0·71 μmol/l in the combination group at month 12 ( P < 0·001 ) , whereas no significant change was observed in the placebo group . The mean values of C AIM T decreased significantly by 0·035 mm ( P= 0·042 ) and 0·073 mm ( P < 0·001 ) in the lutein and combination groups at month 12 , respectively . The change in C AIM T was inversely associated with the increase in serum lutein concentrations ( P < 0·05 ) in both the active treatment groups and with that in serum lycopene concentrations ( β = - 0·342 , P= 0·031 ) in the combination group  . Lutein and lycopene supplementation significantly increased the serum concentrations of lutein and lycopene with a decrease in C AIM T being associated with both concentrations . In addition , the combination of lutein and lycopene supplementation was more effective than lutein alone for protection against the development of C AIM T in Chinese subjects with sub clinical atherosclerosis , and further studies are needed to confirm whether synergistic effects of lutein and lycopene exist
The literature on risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases showed that lutein might be beneficial for atherosclerosis and inflammatory markers , but there were inconsistent associations with blood pressure , adiposity , insulin resistance , and blood lipids .
CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that higher dietary intake and higher blood concentrations of lutein are generally associated with better cardiometabolic health .
BACKGROUND The antioxidant lutein is suggested as being beneficial to cardiometabolic health because of its protective effect against oxidative stress , but evidence has not systematic ally been evaluated .
OBJECTIVE We aim ed to evaluate systematic ally the effects of lutein ( intake or concentrations ) on cardiometabolic outcomes in different life stages .