Higher levels of retinal carotenoids are associated with superior academic achievement and increased efficiency in performing cognitive tasks, new research shows.

A team of investigators led by Naiman Khan, PhD, RD, professor of kinesiology and community health, together with Anne Walk, PhD, postdoctoral scholar, both of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, conducted two studies that used macular pigment optical density (MPOD) to measure concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin, both of which are retinal carotenoids in the eyes.

In one study, researchers measured MPOD in 56 children (aged 8 to 9 years), assessed their academic performance, and measured their 3-day dietary intake of lutein and zeaxanthin.

They found that retinal lutein and zeaxanthin are positively related to academic achievement in children, even when controlling for other factors, such as aerobic fitness, body composition, and intelligence quotient (IQ).

Another study investigated the relationship between MPOD and performance on a challenging cognitive task in 49 children (aged 8 to 10 years).

The researchers found that children with higher MPOD responded to cognitive tasks more efficiently, especially in tasks requiring attention control. The finding provides “novel support” for the neuroprotective influence of retinal carotenoids during preadolescence.

“Lutein is known to accumulate in the retina and several other regions of the brain and has been shown to protect against eye disease and preserve cognitive function in older adults. These studies are important because they demonstrate that the beneficial influence of lutein on cognition is evident in childhood,” Dr Khan told Medscape Medical News.

“We also know that these pigments are found in high quantities in the infant brain. That suggests that they are important in some way for brain development,” Dr Walk said in a release.

The first study was published online May 23 in Nutritional Neuroscience. The second study was published in the August issue of the International Journal of Psychophysiology.

Improved Academic Performance

In both studies, the investigators note that previous research has demonstrated the potential role of lutein and zeaxanthin in combating cognitive decline in the elderly. However, much less is known about the potential cognitive-enhancing or neuroprotective effects of these carotenoids in children.

Prior studies have shown that both lutein and zeaxanthin are found in the infant brain, with a preferential accumulation of lutein. In fact, “the relative contribution of lutein to the total carotenoids found in infant brains is almost two-fold greater than in adults, accounting for 59% vs 34% respectively, suggesting a selective role of lutein in early neural development.”

To investigate the potential impact of retinal carotenoids on cognition in children, the researchers in both studies drew participants from FITKids, an ongoing large, longitudinal, randomized controlled trial of an intervention involving physical activity in children.

Source: MedScape (See Full Study Here)