Antioxidant Lutein Decreases Heart Disease
Lutein, an antioxidant nutrient already linked to eye health, may help
prevent the hardening and narrowing of arteries that can lead to heart
attack and stroke.




Lutein is one of a group of antioxidants that includes vitamins A, C and E.
Research has suggested that because these nutrients can neutralize
oxidative damage in the body, they may help prevent heart disease and
certain cancers. The oxidation of LDL ("bad") cholesterol in the arteries
is a major factor in the development of heart disease.


Lutein has already been shown to potentially lower the risk of an
age-related vision loss called macular degeneration, possibly by preventing
oxidative damage to the retina.


In the new research, investigators studied lutein's relationship to
thickening in the neck's carotid arteries, a marker of artery disease
throughout the body. They found that while participants with the highest
blood levels of lutein showed virtually no artery-wall thickening at the
end of the study, those with the lowest lutein levels showed increased
artery thickness. The lutein link held after factors including age,
smoking, use of heart medications and intake of other vitamins were considered.


To further investigate this dietary association, the researchers conducted
experiments in mice and cell cultures. They found that treating artery-wall
cells with lutein reduced the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. And in mice
engineered to develop artery disease, the researchers found that those
given lutein-supplemented diets showed significantly smaller
artery-clogging plaques compared with untreated mice.


Lutein-rich foods include dark leafy greens like

spinach
carrots
eggs

Circulation June 19, 2001;103



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DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT:

Exciting news when supplements are receiving top billing in conservative
subspecialty journals like Circulation.


It is important to recognize though that although the lutein appears to
work as a supplement it is far wiser to receive it through vegetable intake
as you will have a balance of the other protective factors that will
provide optimum benefit.