# Lutien Question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lutien-question/93870>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 17, 2001, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lutien-question/93870 "2001-11-17T02:38:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![insider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@insider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/insider)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lutien-question/93870/1 "2001-11-17T02:38:29Z")

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Does this stuff really improve your eyesight? How does it work?

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**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lutien-question/93870/2 "2001-11-17T07:07:50Z")

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Lutein. Nobody really knows yet whether it works. Some _early_ research indicates it _may_ improve your eyesight.

[http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~frf/forum01/A143PPO.htm](http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~frf/forum01/A143PPO.htm)

> [@](#):
>
> Board Publish Only (P)  
> A Dietary Supplement Containing Lutein and Natural Tocopherols Modulates Tissue Levels of Retinoids  
> M.Y. Jenkins, G.V. Mitchell and E. Grundel, Division of Toxicology and Nutritional Products, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, CFSAN, FDA, Laurel, MD 20708
> 
> Lutein is a major carotenoid in human blood. Reports suggest that lutein may have specific functions in protecting against age-related macular degeneration and cancer. Some dietary supplements contain a mixture of lutein, natural tocopherols and other components. Limited data are available on the impact of dietary supplements containing such mixtures of nutrients. We determined the effect of graded levels of Flora GLO [FG], a dietary supplement containing lutein derived from marigold flowers, on tissue levels of retinoids in rats. Concurrent with the decrease in plasma retinol was an increase in liver retinyl esters in rats fed the three highest dietary levels of FG (p\<0.05). The ingestion of a supplement containing a carotenoid that does not have vitamin A activity had an impact on the storage of retinoids in the liver and on the transport of retinol in plasma. These results indicate that some component/components in the dietary supplement modulated tissue concentration of retinoids.

You get any of that? Me neither. 😃

It’s a “dietary supplement”, so it’s covered under different FDA rules. It doesn’t need FDA approval, in other words. Consume at your own risk.

[http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/supplmnt.html](http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/supplmnt.html)

> [@](#):
>
> FDA regulates dietary supplements under a different set of regulations than those covering “conventional” foods and drug products (prescription and Over-the-Counter). Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), the dietary supplement manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that a dietary supplement is safe before it is marketed. FDA is responsible for taking action against any unsafe dietary supplement product after it reaches the market. Generally, manufacturers do not need to register with FDA nor get FDA approval before producing or selling dietary supplements. Manufacturers must make sure that product label information is truthful and not misleading.

You want to know anything else, Google is your friend. 😃

> **[Google](https://www.google.com)**
>
> Celebrating the late We:wa! #GoogleDoodle