HEALTH REPORT - Lutein

HEALTH REPORT -June 12, 2002: Lutein

By Nancy Steinbach

(Picture -Laretta Geren)
This is the VOA Special English Health Report.

Recent research has suggested that a nutrient¹ called lutein (LOO-teen) may improve health in more ways than
had been thought. Lutein is found in green, leafy vegetables like spinach² and lettuce³. It is also found in other
fruits and vegetables such as oranges, corn and broccoli⁴. And it is found in the yellow part of eggs.

Lutein is also found in the human eye. Lutein and similar substances known as
carotenoids (ca-ROT-en-oids) make up the color in the macula, the area of the eye
responsible for seeing fine detail. Studies have suggested that greater amounts of
carotenoids increase the color of the macula. Scientists believe that more color protects
the macula from damage.

A study in the publication “Optometry”
says that eating more foods with lutein may
improve vision in people with eye problems. Another study linked greater levels of
carotenoids with reduced early signs of macular damage. And two large studies have
linked lutein to fewer problems with the eye condition called cataracts⁵.

Now, research has begun to show that lutein can protect health in other ways. A report in the publication,
"Circulation," says it may reduce the chance of heart attack and stroke. People with higher blood levels of lutein
had less of a harmful substance inside their blood vessels⁶.

One study found that people in Toulouse, France had high levels of lutein and a low rate of heart disease. The
study also found that people in Belfast, Ireland had much lower levels of lutein and a much higher rate of heart
disease. Other studies have suggested that lutein may protect against cancers of the breast and colon⁷.

Researchers in Boston, Massachusetts, have shown that lutein in dark green, leafy vegetables can protect the skin
against sun damage. The researchers fed foods containing lutein to a group of mice for two weeks. Another group
of mice got normal food. The researchers shined ultraviolet light on all the mice for twenty-two weeks. The mice
treated with lutein developed fewer and smaller cancerous growths and survived longer than the others.

Some people try to increase their lutein levels by taking the nutrient in a pill. However, experts say the protection
thought to be provided by lutein could be the result of many nutrients⁸ in the foods tested. They say people should
eat more foods that contain lutein.

This VOA Special English Health Report was written by Nancy Steinbach.

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1 nutrient   

adj.营养的，滋养的；n.营养物，营养品

参考例句：

• Magnesium is the nutrient element in plant growth.镁是植物生长的营养要素。
• The roots transmit moisture and nutrient to the trunk and branches.根将水分和养料输送到干和枝。

2 spinach   

n.菠菜

参考例句：

• Eating spinach is supposed to make you strong.据说吃菠菜能使人强壮。
• You should eat such vegetables as carrot,celery and spinach.你应该吃胡萝卜、芹菜和菠菜这类的蔬菜。

3 lettuce   

n.莴苣；生菜

参考例句：

• Get some lettuce and tomatoes so I can make a salad.买些莴苣和西红柿，我好做色拉。
• The lettuce is crisp and cold.莴苣松脆爽口。

4 broccoli   

n.绿菜花，花椰菜

参考例句：

• She grew all the broccoli plants from seed.这些花椰菜都是她用种子培育出来的。
• They think broccoli is only green and cauliflower is only white.他们认为西兰花只有绿色的，而菜花都是白色的。

5 cataracts   

n.大瀑布( cataract的名词复数 )；白内障

参考例句：

• The rotor cataracts water over the top of the machines. 回转轮将水从机器顶上注入。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Cataracts of rain flooded the streets. 倾盆大雨弄得街道淹水。 来自辞典例句

6 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 colon   

n.冒号，结肠，直肠

参考例句：

• Here,too,the colon must be followed by a dash.这里也是一样，应当在冒号后加破折号。
• The colon is the locus of a large concentration of bacteria.结肠是大浓度的细菌所在地。

8 nutrients   

n.（食品或化学品）营养物，营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
• Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》