Can lutein help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease?
Interest in the prevention of heart disease by carotenoids stems from the finding in epidemiological studies that persons with higher intakes of fruits and vegetables are at a reduced risk of coronary heart disease and stroke** 32,33. Mediterranean populations have the lowest mortality rate from coronary heart disease in Europe 34. When foods common to the Mediterranean diet were analyzed for carotenoid content, high levels of lutein were detected and correlated well with the relatively high serum levels of lutein found in Greek people 35. The authors of this study theorize this may contribute to the lower mortality rate from coronary heart disease exhibited by this group.
