[tri-med] Re: Lutein & light sensitivity

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jennifer Vanderbeek"
>>  The theory behind lutein supplements is that your typical diet
> includes leafy greens and other veggies and fruits that contain lutein.

Here is a repost of the original article on Lutein by Steve Cantrell

Okay, here goes ... here is a "reprint" of the article featured in the
May/June 1999 issue of the SOFT Times entitled "Vitamins, Vision and Trisomy
... A Good Trio."  Volume 5, Number 1.  All rights reserved & all that good
stuff :>)  Please excuse any typos ... they are my own.

Dr. Steven D. Cantrell, SOFT board member and Past President, has recently
co-authored an article that was published in January on antioxidants and eye
health.  Dr. Rodney L. Ausich, Ph.D., co-author, of Des Moines, Iowa, is
vice
president of research and development at Kemin Foods, LLC.  He has done
extensive research on the role of lutein and zeaxanthin in age-related
macular degeneration (ARMD).  Dr. Cantrell has been prescribing supplements
containing lutein for the past 18 months and is seeing positive results.
Dr.
Burt Dubow, O.D., Eyequest Education Chairman, states that there "is a slew
of new research that suggests that diet and nutrition can play a critical
role in the severity and progression of ARMD - and may even delay its
onset."

Dr. Cantrell states that "we discovered in PIttsburgh (SOFT Conference) that
some families were juicing kale, collard greens and spinach and that our
Trisomy 18 children were much less light sensitive.  I do think this
information is to be shared."  The article that Dr. Cantrell and Dr. Ausich
have authored "focuses on age-related macular degeneration, but this same
principle prevents cataracts, glare, night blindness and light sensitivity
(our kids) in adults and children."  Dr. Cantrell recommends that "the best
way to get this on board is to juice kale, collard greens and/or spinach and
bottle or g-tube it in.  As this is all natural, it should be tolerated
well."

Dr. Cantrell believes that the information gleaned during the research has
value for our (SOFT) children, many of whom have cataracts and light
sensitivity.

The article states that "biochemical analyses of the nutrient content of
specific vegetables have shown that spinach, collard greens and kale are
particularly rich sources of lutein and zeaxanthin (these two carotenoids
are
often grouped together because they are closely related and lutein may be
converted to zeaxanthin in the retina)."

Lutein and zeaxanthin are absorbed from our diets and circulated in our
bloodstreams.  These two compounds are specifically deposited in the macular
region of the retina at high concentrations.  They are the compounds
responsible for the "macula lutea" or yellow spot found in the foveal
region.
 Interestingly, lutein and zeaxanthin are the only carotenoids found in the
tissues of the eye ... Drs. Cantrell and Ausich conclude that:

~Lutein and zeaxanthin serve as antioxidants in the body;
~Oxidative metabolite of lutein is found in the macula;  and
~High lutein and zeaxanthin consumption lead to a decrease in the prevalence
of ARMD.

As you recall, the symptoms of ARMD are the same as those occurring in our
children with Trisomy, thus the treatment regimen will be the same.

The authors state that "the only source for lutein and zeaxanthin is our
diet
- our bodies can't make these compounds.  Researchers have demonstrated that
consumption of vegatables rich in lutein and zeaxanthin leads to an increase
in the level of these carotenoids in our plasma as well as an increase in
the
level of these compounds in the macular region of the retina.  Thus,
consumption of dark green, leafy vegatables increases the density of the
macular pigment ... This is consistent with the hypothesis that high levels
of macular pigment are protective against the disease."

Two roles have been proposed to explain how the macular pigment protects the
macula ...

~Filtering Blue Light ... Because lutein and zeaxanthin are yellow, they
efficiently absorb the blue light portions of the visible spectrum.  Blue
light can damage the retina by inducing photoxidative decay.  When
sufficient
levels of lutein and zeaxanthin are present in the macula, blue light is
absorbed and photoxidation is minimized.

~Reducing the Damaging Effects of Free Radicals ... Lutein and zeaxanthin
also are very effective antioxidants and prevent the oxidative damage due to
free radicals.  The retina is an area of the body that produces among the
highest number of free radicals.  With sufficient levels of lutein and
zeaxanthin in the retina, free radical damage is minimized.

Drs. Cantrell and Ausich state that sunlight is "important for the synthesis
of vitamin D ... and has established psychological effects.  However, we're
all aware of the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation to vision."  They
futher state that "as the components of the macular pigment, lutein and
zeaxanthin are powerful antioxidants and are believed to protect the macular
area from free radical damage induced by light."  They recommend that
physicians should advise their patients about the "damaging effects of
sunlight exposure ... even children and their parents should take steps to
reduce excessive exposure to sunlight."  For those of you familiar with Dr.
Cantrell, you will remember that he has provided many, many pairs of special
sunglasses for even the tiniest of our SOFT babies and children to protect
them from UV rays.  The authors go on to say that "simple measures such as
wearing a hat and sunglasses can significantly reduce a person's sunlight
exposure to his eyes."

Dr. Cantrell has conducted vision workshops at SOFT conferences and is known
for his compassionate manner with SOFT families.  We are honored to have
such
a weath of information within our board of directors.

Dr. Cantrell and his wife, Peggy, and daughter, Lauren, lead the Annual Ryan
Cantrell Memorial Balloon Release ceremony at the conference.  Tyan was born
with Trisomy 18 and lived eight months.  The Cantrells have been avid
supporters and volunteers for SOFT.  (End of article)

                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

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