Held last week in Munich, Germany, invited scientists spoke on biomarker development, bioavailability of differing lutein forms and the latest research linking the carotenoid alon with zeaxanthin to reducing eye conditions like age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Patrick Coppens from the Brussels-based consultancy, EAS, outlined the state of play with lutein-based health claims in the European Union, after last year’s negative opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
“Our focus is to understand mechanistically how and why the macular pigment carotenoids are concentrated in the human foveal region at the highest concentrations found anywhere in the human body,” said one of the speakers, Professor Paul Bernstein from the Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah.