Fruit and Vegetable Intake and the Macular Pigment Optical Density

Abstract

Abstract Fruit and vegetables supply nutrients and other bioactive compounds, including lutein and zeaxanthin, to human diet. Macular pigment (MP) is composed of lutein and zeaxanthin, from dietary origin, and mesozeaxanthin. MP has been studied in relation with ocular health (visual function and risk of chronic eye diseases). This chapter focuses on the relationship between lutein and zeaxanthin intake from overall diet or from fruit and vegetables with the MPOD, and on the factors influencing the comparison of results across studies (i.e., methodological, subject- and food-related). Public health dietary recommendations encourage increased fruit and vegetable consumption, and certain scientific organisms highlight the benefits of green-colored foods. However, the amount of dietary lutein and zeaxanthin is not the only determinant of increasing MPOD; in fact, their bioavailability from food matrixes is crucial. Several studies suggest that foods of red/orange color (mainly fruits) are better sources/contributors than those of green color.