Macular Pigment Carotenoid Supplementation for the Preservation of Visual Structure and Function Following a Collegiate Rugby Season

Thirty-one rugby players (15M/16F; 19±1.4 years) were randomly assigned to supplement (n = 15) or placebo (n = 16) groups. Left eye GCC inferior region was thinner at post-season in supplement (102.1±4.4 vs 102.9±4.7 μm; <i>p</i> = 0.002) and placebo groups (101.4±5.3 vs 102.6±5.0 μm, <i>p</i> < 0.001). The supplement group had a higher SC score at post-season versus the placebo group (409.2±76.3 vs 323.4±61.3; <i>p</i> = 0.04). With regards to visual function, CFF approached a significant increase in the supplemental group versus placebo (27.6±1.8 vs 25.7±2.2 Hz, <i>p</i> = 0.08), but there were no differences found between groups in MPOD or CS. NF-L was different at post-season in the placebo (10.05 vs 7.21 pg/mL; <i>p</i> = 0.003) but not the supplement group (7.07 vs 7.78 pg/mL; <i>p</i> = 0.40). Tau was different between groups at pre- (1.2 vs 0.87 pg/mL; <i>p</i> = 0.04) and post-season (1.33 vs 1.01 pg/mL; <i>p</i> = 0.02) with greater concentrations in the supplement group. GFAP and UCH-L1 were not different. One season of collegiate rugby resulted in retinal thinning and increased concentrations of NF-L and Tau. Supplementation with MPCs and omega-3s may be useful in limiting retinal thinning and preventing increases in biomarkers of neurodegeneration.