Serum and Macular Carotenoids in Relation to Retinal Vessel Caliber Fifteen Years Later, in the Second Carotenoids in Age-Related Eye Disease Study

This study including HIP Investigator Dr. Yao Liu investigated whether dietary carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin (L/Z) in the serum and macula were associated with central retinal arteriole and venule calibers in a follow-up ancillary study among 390 older women in the Women’s Health Initiative. They found that higher L/Z status in serum and retina was associated with larger central retinal vessel calibers. Prospective studies and clinical trials are needed to elucidate whether L/Z supplementation prevents vision loss through increasing blood flow.