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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #331857
Title: Lutein and brain function

Author
item ERDMAN, JOHN - University Of Illinois
item SMITH, J - University Of Illinois
item KUCHAN, MATTHEW - Abbott Nutrition
item MOHN, EMILY - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item JOHNSON, ELIZABETH - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item RUBAKHIN, STANISLAV - University Of Illinois
item WANG, LIN - University Of Illinois
item SWEEDLER, JONATHAN - University Of Illinois
item NEURINGER, MARTHA - Oregon Health & Science University

Submitted to: Foods
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/7/2015
Publication Date: 10/1/2015
Citation: Erdman, J.W., Smith, J.W., Kuchan, M.J., Mohn, E., Johnson, E.J., Rubakhin, S.S., Wang, L., Sweedler, J.V., Neuringer, M. 2015. Lutein and brain function. Foods. 4(4):547-564.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Lutein is one of the most prevalent carotenoids in nature and in the human diet. Together with zeaxanthin, it is highly concentrated in macular pigment in the foveal retina of primates, attenuating blue light exposure, providing protection from photo-oxidation and enhancing visual performance. Recently, interest in lutein has expanded beyond the retina to its possible contributions to brain development and function. Only primates accumulate lutein within the brain, but little is known about its distribution or physiological role. Our team has begun to utilize the Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) model to study the uptake and bio-localization of lutein into brain. Our overall goal has been to assess the association of lutein localization with brain function. In this review, we will first cover the evolution of the non-human primate model for lutein and brain studies, discuss prior association studies of lutein with retina and brain function, and review approaches that can be used to localize brain lutein. We also describe our approach to biosynthesize 13C-lutein, which will allow investigation of lutein flux, localization, metabolism and pharmacokinetics. Lastly, we describe potential future research opportunities.