Abstract
Purpose :
Lipoproteins deliver lipids and macular carotenoids to the eye. The lipid contents of lipoproteins in the circulation are associated with the risk of the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We investigated the effects of carotenoid supplementation on the serum lipid profile of a transgenic mouse line that takes up carotenoids.
Methods :
BCO2 knockout mice with expression of RPE-Cre (Bco2-/- Transgenic ) were kept on vitamin A deficient chow for one month to increase the bioavailability of carotenoids. They were then divided into four groups (3 mice/group) and fed with zeaxanthin, lutein, β-carotene, and the control chow (no carotenoid) for one month. The contents of HDL, LDL, and triglycerides (TG) in the serum of these mice were analyzed using a CURO L7 Lipid Analyzer. Briefly, 35 µL of serum from each animal was loaded on a lipid profile test strip for a 3-minute measurement. T-test was used for statistical analysis, and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results :
Supplementation with zeaxanthin, lutein, and β-carotene significantly increased the HDL cholesterol in the serum of the Bco2-/- transgenic mice, and the contents of HDL cholesterol in the mice fed with carotenoids were increased about twofold relative to the control. Zeaxanthin significantly reduced ~ 50% of the serum TG, whereas no significant alteration was detected from lutein or β-carotene supplementation. Interestingly, the contents of LDL cholesterol were not detectable because they were below the detection limit.
Conclusions :
Our data show that supplementation with zeaxanthin, lutein, and β-carotene can increase serum HDL cholesterol in mice, while zeaxanthin may reduce serum TG. Our finding demonstrates that carotenoid supplementation might alter the lipid profile in the circulation, offering new insights into AMD prevention using carotenoids.
This abstract was presented at the 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, May 1-4, 2022, and virtually.