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Dietary Carotenoids and The Nervous System
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Dietary Carotenoids and The Nervous System

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2016) | Viewed by 46563

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Billy Hammond

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
Interests: nutritional neuroscience; carotenoids; macular pigment; lutein/zeaxanthin; sensory; vision
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The discovery that macular xanthophylls are selectively present throughout central nervous system tissue has led to the question of how these dietary components influence the retina and brain. Interest in the macular carotenoids comes from diverse areas of study ranging from biochemistry to pychophysics. Fundamental human and animal studies have linked these pigments as important prophylactic agents in a number of degenerative diseases as well as basic functioning. These effects manifest as early as prenatal development and extend to the end of life.

In this special topical issue of Foods, we invite papers on all aspects of the macular carotenoids especially as they pertain to influences on the health and function of the nervous system.

Dr. Billy R. Hammond
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Foods is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Editorial

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128 KiB  
Editorial
Dietary Carotenoids and the Nervous System
by Billy R. Hammond
Foods 2015, 4(4), 698-701; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods4040698 - 10 Dec 2015
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4459
Abstract
This issue of Foods is focused on the general topic of carotenoids within the nervous system. The focus is on the effects of the xanthophylls on the central nervous system (CNS), reflecting the majority of work in this area. [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Carotenoids and The Nervous System)

Research

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1389 KiB  
Article
Macular Pigment Optical Density and Measures of Macular Function: Test-Retest Variability, Cross-Sectional Correlations, and Findings from the Zeaxanthin Pilot Study of Response to Supplementation (ZEASTRESS-Pilot)
by Alessandro Iannaccone, Giovannella Carboni, Gina Forma, Maria Giulia Mutolo and Barbara J. Jennings
Foods 2016, 5(2), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods5020032 - 29 Apr 2016
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5420
Abstract
We report on the short-term test-retest baseline variability in macular function tests in ZEASTRESS-Pilot participants (n = 18), on their cross-sectional correlation with macular pigment optical density (MPOD), and on the effects of four months (FUV4) of 20 mg/day zeaxanthin (ZX), followed [...] Read more.
We report on the short-term test-retest baseline variability in macular function tests in ZEASTRESS-Pilot participants (n = 18), on their cross-sectional correlation with macular pigment optical density (MPOD), and on the effects of four months (FUV4) of 20 mg/day zeaxanthin (ZX), followed by a four-month washout (FUV8; n = 24, age 50–81 years old). Outcomes included: MPOD at 0.5 and 2.0 deg eccentricity (MPOD-0.5 and -2.0); contrast sensitivity (CS); pattern-reversal electroretinogram (PERG) amplitude; dark-adapted 650 nm foveal cone sensitivity (DA650-FCS); and 500 mn parafoveal rod sensitivity (DA500-PFRS). All measures of macular function showed close test-retest correlation (Pearson’s r range: 0.744–0.946) and low coefficients of variation (CV range: 1.13%–4.00%). MPOD correlated in a complex fashion with macular function. Following supplementation, MPOD-0.5 and MPOD-2.0 increased at both FUV4 and FUV8 (p ≤ 0.0001 for all measures). Continued, delayed MPOD increase and a small, but significant (p = 0.012), CS increase was seen at FUV8 only in females. PERGs increased significantly at FUV4 (p = 0.0006), followed by a partial decline at FUV8. In conclusion, following ZX supplementation, MPOD increased significantly. There was no effect on DA-650 FCS or DA-500 PFRS. Both CS and PERG amplitudes increased following supplementation, but the effect varied between males and females. Additional studies appear warranted to confirm and characterize further these inter-gender differences. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Carotenoids and The Nervous System)
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369 KiB  
Article
Reliability of Heterochromatic Flicker Photometry in Measuring Macular Pigment Optical Density among Preadolescent Children
by Sasha M. McCorkle, Lauren B. Raine, Billy R. Hammond, Jr., Lisa Renzi-Hammond, Charles H. Hillman and Naiman A. Khan
Foods 2015, 4(4), 594-604; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods4040594 - 16 Oct 2015
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5898
Abstract
Macular pigment optical density (MPOD)—assessed using customized heterochromatic flicker photometry (cHFP)—is related to better cognition and brain lutein among adults. However, the reliability of MPOD assessed by cHFP has not been investigated in children. We assessed inter-session reliability of MPOD using modified cHFP. [...] Read more.
Macular pigment optical density (MPOD)—assessed using customized heterochromatic flicker photometry (cHFP)—is related to better cognition and brain lutein among adults. However, the reliability of MPOD assessed by cHFP has not been investigated in children. We assessed inter-session reliability of MPOD using modified cHFP. 7–10-year-olds (n = 66) underwent cHFP over 2 visits using 11 examiners. Reliability was also assessed in a subsample (n = 46) with only 2 examiners. Among all participants, there was no significant difference between the two sessions (p = 0.59—session 1: 0.61 ± 0.28; session 2: 0.62 ± 0.27). There was no significant difference in the MPOD of boys vs. girls (p = 0.56). There was a significant correlation between sessions (Y = 0.52x + 0.31; R2 = 0.29, p ≤ 0.005), with a reliability of 0.70 (Cronbach’s α). Among the subsample with 2 examiners, there was a significant correlation between sessions (Y = 0.54x + 0.31; R2 = 0.32, p < 0.005), with a reliability of 0.72 (Cronbach’s α). In conclusion, there is moderate reliability for modified cHFP to measure MPOD in preadolescents. These findings provide support for future studies aiming to conduct noninvasive assessments of retinal xanthophylls and study their association with cognition during childhood. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Carotenoids and The Nervous System)
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699 KiB  
Article
Lutein and Brain Function
by John W. Erdman, Jr., Joshua W. Smith, Matthew J. Kuchan, Emily S. Mohn, Elizabeth J. Johnson, Stanislav S. Rubakhin, Lin Wang, Jonathan V. Sweedler and Martha Neuringer
Foods 2015, 4(4), 547-564; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods4040547 - 09 Oct 2015
Cited by 77 | Viewed by 12577
Abstract
Lutein is one of the most prevalent carotenoids in nature and in the human diet. Together with zeaxanthin, it is highly concentrated as macular pigment in the foveal retina of primates, attenuating blue light exposure, providing protection from photo-oxidation and enhancing visual performance. [...] Read more.
Lutein is one of the most prevalent carotenoids in nature and in the human diet. Together with zeaxanthin, it is highly concentrated as 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 in the 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 the biosynthesis of 13C-lutein, which will allow investigation of lutein flux, localization, metabolism and pharmacokinetics. Lastly, we describe potential future research opportunities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Carotenoids and The Nervous System)
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Review

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2289 KiB  
Review
Can Xanthophyll-Membrane Interactions Explain Their Selective Presence in the Retina and Brain?
by Justyna Widomska, Mariusz Zareba and Witold Karol Subczynski
Foods 2016, 5(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods5010007 - 12 Jan 2016
Cited by 45 | Viewed by 10085
Abstract
Epidemiological studies demonstrate that a high dietary intake of carotenoids may offer protection against age-related macular degeneration, cancer and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Humans cannot synthesize carotenoids and depend on their dietary intake. Major carotenoids that have been found in human plasma can [...] Read more.
Epidemiological studies demonstrate that a high dietary intake of carotenoids may offer protection against age-related macular degeneration, cancer and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Humans cannot synthesize carotenoids and depend on their dietary intake. Major carotenoids that have been found in human plasma can be divided into two groups, carotenes (nonpolar molecules, such as β-carotene, α-carotene or lycopene) and xanthophylls (polar carotenoids that include an oxygen atom in their structure, such as lutein, zeaxanthin and β-cryptoxanthin). Only two dietary carotenoids, namely lutein and zeaxanthin (macular xanthophylls), are selectively accumulated in the human retina. A third carotenoid, meso-zeaxanthin, is formed directly in the human retina from lutein. Additionally, xanthophylls account for about 70% of total carotenoids in all brain regions. Some specific properties of these polar carotenoids must explain why they, among other available carotenoids, were selected during evolution to protect the retina and brain. It is also likely that the selective uptake and deposition of macular xanthophylls in the retina and brain are enhanced by specific xanthophyll-binding proteins. We hypothesize that the high membrane solubility and preferential transmembrane orientation of macular xanthophylls distinguish them from other dietary carotenoids, enhance their chemical and physical stability in retina and brain membranes and maximize their protective action in these organs. Most importantly, xanthophylls are selectively concentrated in the most vulnerable regions of lipid bilayer membranes enriched in polyunsaturated lipids. This localization is ideal if macular xanthophylls are to act as lipid-soluble antioxidants, which is the most accepted mechanism through which lutein and zeaxanthin protect neural tissue against degenerative diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Carotenoids and The Nervous System)
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589 KiB  
Review
Nitric Oxide and Lutein: Function, Performance, and Protection of Neural Tissue
by James M. Stringham and Nicole T. Stringham
Foods 2015, 4(4), 678-689; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods4040678 - 11 Nov 2015
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 7317
Abstract
The soluble gas neurotransmitter nitric oxide (NO) serves many important metabolic and neuroregulatory functions in the retina and brain. Although it is necessary for normal neural function, NO can play a significant role in neurotoxicity. This is often seen in disease states that [...] Read more.
The soluble gas neurotransmitter nitric oxide (NO) serves many important metabolic and neuroregulatory functions in the retina and brain. Although it is necessary for normal neural function, NO can play a significant role in neurotoxicity. This is often seen in disease states that involve oxidative stress and inflammation of neural tissues, such as age-related macular degeneration and Alzheimer’s disease. The dietary xanthophyll carotenoid lutein (L) is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent that, if consumed in sufficient amounts, is deposited in neural tissues that require substantial metabolic demand. Some of these specific tissues, such as the central retina and frontal lobes of the brain, are impacted by age-related diseases such as those noted above. The conspicuous correspondence between metabolic demand, NO, and L is suggestive of a homeostatic relationship that serves to facilitate normal function, enhance performance, and protect vulnerable neural tissues. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on these points. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Carotenoids and The Nervous System)
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