Lutein protected the retina from light induced retinal damage by inhibiting increasing oxidative stress and inflammation

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of lutein on blue LED light-induced retinal injury. Animals were randomly assigned to six groups. Distilled water (normal control and water-light group), corn oil (solvent-light group), or 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg lutein in corn oil (three lutein treatment groups) were administered intragastrically for 30 days. The experimental rats (all groups other than the normal control group) were exposed to 1500 lx for 1.5 h after pretreatment. Lutein pretreatment significantly attenuated the decrease in the electroretinogram (ERG) a-wave and b-wave amplitudes and the thinning of the photoreceptor cell layer caused by apoptosis; inhibited light-induced oxidative stress in the retinal tissues; and suppressed the increase in inflammatory cytokine levels. Moreover, the expression of BCO2 was significantly upregulated with lutein supplementation in retinas exposed to light. Our results suggested that lutein protected the retina for light induced retinal damage by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation.