Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr John Nolan
ORCID ID
Contact details
Suite 14
Whitfield Clinic
Butlerstown North
Cork Road
Waterford
-
Ireland
+353 (0)51 302018
jnolan@wit.ie
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
N/A
Study information
Scientific title
Comparison of macular and serum responses after supplementation with two different macular carotenoid formulations
Acronym
AMOST
Study hypothesis
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the late stage of age-related maculopathy (ARM), is the most common cause of blind registration in the western world. It is estimated that AMD affects approximately 1.4 million individuals in United States, 417,000 people in the United Kingdom and 70,000 people in the Republic of Ireland, and this number is likely to increase due to increasing longevity. Although the aetiological mechanisms leading to ARM are uncertain, there is a growing consensus that cumulative short wavelength (blue) light damage and/or oxidative stress play a role in this disease.
The central retina, known as the macula, is responsible for central, colour and fine-detail vision. A pigment, composed of the three dietary hydroxycarotenoids, lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z), and meso-zeaxanthin (MZ) (MZ is also formed in the retina following conversion from L), accumulates at the macula where it is known as macular pigment (MP). MP is a blue light filter and a powerful antioxidant, and is therefore believed to protect against ARM. In addition, there is good reason to believe why supplementation with L, Z and MZ would enhance a patients retinal sensitivity.
Several studies have investigated the relationship between dietary and serum concentrations of L (and Z) and MP optical density in humans, and all have demonstrated a positive relationship between these variables. Non-dietary variables suspected of acting as determinants of serum concentrations of L (and Z) and/or MP optical density include: age; sex; iris colour; race; body fat; ultraviolet light exposure; tobacco and drinking habits; and genetic background. However, the exclusively dietary origins of L and Z suggest that dietary intake (fruit and vegetables and/or dietary supplements) of these carotenoids represents one of the most important determinants of serum L (and Z) and MP optical density.
To date, there have been several published studies in the literature reporting on L and/or Z supplementation with respect to serum carotenoid and MP levels, in human subjects. However, there has only been one study which has investigated the effects of supplemental MZ and that study consisted of only 10 subjects and nine controls which were recruited in a non-randomized manner. MZ is a particularly interesting macular carotenoid for the following reasons. MZ is the dominant carotenoid in the central fovea: of the three macular carotenoids, MZ is the most powerful antioxidant; MZ facilities a wider range of blue light filtration; at an anatomic level, MZ is more closely related to vulnerable photoreceptors than either L or Z, and is therefore ideally located to afford protection against free radical damage.
Given that there are many factors which affect the bioavailability and uptake of MZ, L and Z into the retina, it is possible that other commercially available products designed to augment MP, such as Macushield™, may show a more favorable response than previously tested formulations. We believe that the ideal formulation to augment MP would contain all three of the macular carotenoids (MZ, L, and Z), primarily because all other commercially available products (at least in the context of a typical diet which does not include MZ-containing foods, such a shrimp and salmon) depends on the individuals ability to convert L to MZ within the retina, and this process may well be dependent on specific enzymatic isomerisations. In other words, MacuShield™ (because it contains MZ) is the only formulation which provides all three macular carotenoids, without the need for conversion of any of these compounds within the retina.
In addition, the design of all studies to date are limited, as no study has yet investigated supplementation of any of the macular carotenoids in ARM subjects in a double-blind randomised controlled fashion. Also, all supplementation studies to date have reported only on the peak MP optical density. This is a major limitation, due to the fact that most of the studies to date would have supplemented with L only, and it is known that L accumulates in the periphery of the MP and not at the centre where these measurements would have been made. In other words, it is likely that previous studies reporting on L supplementation with respect to MP levels would have missed (or were unable to detect) significant increases in peripheral MP levels. In brief, therefore, a properly designed study capable of investigating MZ, L and Z supplementation with respect to serum and MP levels (including its entire spatial profile), in patients with ARM is truly merited and will accredit any MP product which is tested in this manner.
Furthermore, as there are now many different carotenoid-based products available on the market, with various different formulations and concentrations of the macular carotenoids, it is timely, therefore, to compare patient response (in serum and macula) to such formulations. In this way, suffers of ARM, and people at risk of developing this disease, will be informed as to which product provides the greater augmentation of serum and retinal levels of the macular carotenoids following supplementation with these compounds.
This study is designed to compare two different carotenoid-based products, in a double-blind, randomised controlled fashion, with respect to changes in MP optical density, and in serum concentrations of MZ, L and Z. This study will also investigate whether MP augmentation enhances visual performance in AMD patients.
A predecessor to this trial has been registered with an ISRCTN and can be found at http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN60816411; this previously registered trial was performed in a population of normal healthy participants where the primary outcome measure was macular and serum responses to Macushield™. This trial is designed to investigate morphological changes in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) after supplementation with Macushield™ and a lutein product.
As of 30/11/2011 the anticipated end date for this trial has been updated. The original date was 01/03/2011.
Ethics approval
The Research Ethics Committee, South Eastern Region, Ireland gave approval on the 28th November 2008
Study design
Double-blind randomised clinical trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please contact Eithne Connolly (econnolly@wit.ie) to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Age-related macular degeneration
Intervention
Group 1: MZ 10 mg; L 10 mg; Z 2 mg (intervention group 1)
Group 2: 10 mg L plus an additional contamination of circa 1 mg Z (intervention group 2)
The treatment will be 12 months in duration and visits for the trial will be baseline, 3 months, six months and twelve months of supplementation.
Intervention type
Drug
Phase
Not Applicable
Drug names
Lutein (L), zeaxanthin (Z), meso-zeaxanthin (MZ)
Primary outcome measure
Measured at baseline, three months, six months and twelve months:
1. Morphological changes in AMD, with respect to baseline and between groups 1 and 2 over the study period
2. MP optical density (including its entire spatial profile), as measured by heterochromatic flicker photometry (HFP)
3. Comparison of MP optical density response between groups 1 and 2 over the study period
Secondary outcome measures
Measured at baseline, three months, six months and twelve months:
1. Serum MZ, L and Z concentrations as measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
2. Comparison of serum carotenoid response between groups 1 and 2 over the study period
3. Assessment of retinal sensitivity using microperimetry
Overall trial start date
01/03/2009
Overall trial end date
01/03/2012
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Male or female, aged 50 years and above
2. Early stage AMD in at least one eye
3. No additional ocular pathology to AMD
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
50
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Cigarette smokers
2. Currently taking dietary supplements and/or had been taking dietary supplements over the previous three months prior to their baseline study visit
3. Diabetics (HbA1c above 6.5%)
Recruitment start date
01/03/2009
Recruitment end date
01/03/2012
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Ireland
Trial participating centre
Suite 14, Whitfield Clinic
Waterford
-
Ireland
Sponsor information
Organisation
Howard Foundations Holdings Limited (UK)
Sponsor details
Whitehill House
Granhams Road
Great Shelford
Cambridge
CB2 5JY
United Kingdom
Sponsor type
Industry
Website
Funders
Funder type
Industry
Funder name
Howard Foundations Holdings Limited (UK)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Not provided at time of registration
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list