What is the primary protective role attributed to the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin that accumulate in the macula of the eye after consuming white corn?
Answer
Filtering out harmful high-energy blue light, thereby protecting the delicate retinal tissues from oxidative damage.
Lutein and zeaxanthin are key carotenoids present in white corn that offer specific benefits for vision maintenance. These two compounds are recognized as powerful antioxidants that strategically accumulate within the macula of the eye. Their most critical function in this location is acting as a natural filter. They specifically filter out high-energy blue light that enters the eye. By performing this filtering action, they shield the delicate retinal tissues from potential oxidative damage that can occur over time due to prolonged exposure to such high-energy light.
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