Effect of astaxanthin- and tocotrienol-containing foods on the ocular function of healthy individuals: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group trial

• Astaxanthin + tocotrienol improved post-VDT visual acuity in patients aged ≥40 years. • The combination therapy significantly mitigated VA reduction after VDT work. • Patients had better functional VA after 6-week astaxanthin + tocotrienol intake. • Astaxanthin + tocotrienol improved average functional VA post-VDT compared to placebo. We examined a 6-week consumption effect of astaxanthin- and tocotrienol-containing foods on ocular function pre- and post-visual display terminal (VDT) work in a randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study including 60 healthy adults. For 6 weeks, participants consumed astaxanthin (9 mg/day) + tocotrienol (50 mg/day)- or placebo-containing foods. The astaxanthin + tocotrienol group had significantly better corrected post-VDT visual acuity (VA) in the dominant eye than the placebo group according to the measured value and change from pre-VDT after 6 weeks of astaxanthin + tocotrienol consumption (p < 0.05). Notably, the therapy mitigated VA reduction. The average functional VA (average VA evaluated for 60 s) of both eyes was also significantly better in the astaxanthin + tocotrienol group (≥40 years) than in the placebo group after the VDT loading test task. This improvement was observed in the change from pre- to post-VDT and post-VDT in the dominant eye (p < 0.05). These results suggest that astaxanthin + tocotrienol combination therapy mitigated decreased VDT-loaded and functional VA. (UMIN registration number: UMIN000043090).