Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Master of Science (MS)
Major/Program
Chemistry
First Advisor's Name
John T. Landrum
First Advisor's Committee Title
Committe Chair
Second Advisor's Name
Konstantinos Kavallieratos
Third Advisor's Name
David Chatfield
Keywords
carotenoids, lutein, s-cis conformer, dietary supplement.
Date of Defense
10-27-2011
Abstract
Lutein is a principal constituent of the human macular pigment. This study is composed of two projects. The first studies the conformational geometries of lutein and its potential adaptability in biological systems. The second is a study of the response of human subjects to lutein supplements.
Using semi-empirical parametric method 3 (PM3) and density functional theory with the B3LYP/6-31G* basis set, the relative energies of s-cis conformers of lutein were determined. All 512 s-cis conformers were calculated with PM3. A smaller, representative group was also studied using density functional theory. PM3 results were correlated systematically to B3LYP values and this enables the results to be calibrated. The relative energies of the conformers range from 1-30 kcal/mole, and many are dynamically accessible at normal temperatures.
Four commercial formulations containing lutein were studied. The serum and macular pigment (MP) responses of human subjects to these lutein supplements with doses of 9 or 20 mg/day were measured, relative to a placebo, over a six month period. In each instance, lutein levels in serum increased and correlated with MP increases. The results demonstrate that responses are significantly dependent upon formulation and that components other than lutein have an important influence serum response.
Identifier
FI11120808
Recommended Citation
Mendez, Vanesa, "Measurments of Carotenoid Levels in Human Serum and a Catalog of the Lutein Conformation Populations from Semi-empirical Calculations" (2011). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 523.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/523
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