Association between Dietary Lutein/Zeaxanthin Intake and Metabolic Syndrome among US Females: An Analysis of National Health and Examination Surveys 2015-2018

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is greater among US females than males, mainly due to higher risks of dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia. Lutein and zeaxanthin (L/Z) are carotenoids that can alter the composition of lipoproteins, which may affect components of MetS. However, little is known about the association between L/Z intake and MetS, especially in females. The purpose of this study was to explore the relation between dietary L/Z or dietary plus supplemental L/Z intakes and MetS in women (n = 630), aged 20-50 y, participating in the NHANES 2015-2018. Compared with the lowest quartile, women in the highest quartile of dietary L/Z intake had significantly lower risk of MetS after adjusting for confounders (OR = 0.46; 95% CI: 0.21, 0.98). No significant relation was noted between dietary plus supplemental L/Z intake and MetS. Future cohort studies should investigate the effects of L/Z on MetS development in women.