Effects of Astaxanthin, Lutein, and Zeaxanthin on Eye-Hand Coordination and Smooth-Pursuit Eye Movement after Visual Display Terminal Operation in Healthy Subjects: A Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Intergroup Trial

Nutrients. 2023 Mar 17;15(6):1459. doi: 10.3390/nu15061459.

Abstract

(1) Background: The impairment of eye-hand coordination and smooth-pursuit eye movement caused by visual display terminal (VDT) operation is thought to impair daily living activities, for which no effective methods are currently known. On the other hand, various food ingredients, including astaxanthin, lutein, and zeaxanthin, are known to help improve the eye health of VDT operators. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that the combination of astaxanthin, lutein, and zeaxanthin can prevent the impairment of eye-hand coordination and smooth-pursuit eye movement caused by VDT operation. (2) Methods: We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial. Healthy subjects who regularly worked with VDTs were randomly assigned to the active and placebo groups. All of the subjects took soft capsules containing 6 mg of astaxanthin, 10 mg of lutein, and 2 mg of zeaxanthin or placebo soft capsules once daily for eight weeks. We evaluated the eye-hand coordination, smooth-pursuit eye movements, and macular pigment optical density (MPOD) at 0, two, four, and eight weeks after soft-capsule intake. (3) Results: The active group showed significantly improved eye-hand coordination after VDT operation at eight weeks. However, there was no clear improvement in the effect of the supplementation on smooth-pursuit eye movements. The active group also showed a significant increase in MPOD levels. (4) Conclusions: Consumption of a supplement containing astaxanthin, lutein, and zeaxanthin mitigates the decline of eye-hand coordination after VDT operation.

Keywords: astaxanthin; eye–hand coordination; lutein; macular pigment optical density (MPOD); smooth-pursuit eye movements; visual display terminals (VDT); zeaxanthin.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Dietary Supplements
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Eye Movements
  • Healthy Volunteers
  • Humans
  • Lutein
  • Macular Degeneration* / drug therapy
  • Macular Pigment*
  • Visual Acuity
  • Zeaxanthins

Substances

  • Lutein
  • astaxanthine
  • Zeaxanthins
  • Macular Pigment

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Senju Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Osaka, Japan).