Table 4.

Effect of the diacetate formulation on serum and tissue response compared to the other formulations ¹.

Outcome	Group 4 vs. Group 1		Group 4 vs. Group 2		Group 4 vs. Group 3
	Difference in Change	p-Value	Difference in Change	p-Value	Difference in Change	p-Value
L	−0.027 (−0.297 to 0.244)	0.839	0.056 (−0.208 to 0.320)	0.666	0.070 (−0.175 to 0.315)	0.563
Z	0.033 (0.006 to 0.059)	0.018	0.045 (0.018 to 0.072)	0.002	0.030 (0.005 to 0.055)	0.019
MZ	0.109 (0.020 to 0.197)	0.019	0.124 (0.036 to 0.211)	0.009	0.126 (0.039 to 0.214)	0.008
MPOV	374 (−196 to 944)	0.187	45 (−598 to 687)	0.888	33 (−515 to 581)	0.903
SKIN	3000 (−6310 to 12,310)	0.511	9595 (811 to 18,379)	0.034	6448 (−1191 to 14,087)	0.095

¹ Values are mean (95%CI). Abbreviations: L, lutein (indicates L serum concentrations, μmol/L); Z, zeaxanthin (indicates Z serum concentrations, μmol/L); MZ, meso-zeaxanthin (indicates MZ serum concentrations, μmol/L); MPOV, macular pigment optical volume; Skin indicates skin carotenoid score. The between-group differences were analysed with the use of an independent-sample t-test to compare group 4 against the other 3 active groups. Interventions are as follows: Group 1, L (10 mg) + MZ (10 mg) + Z (2 mg) provided in one capsule; Group 2, L (10 mg) + MZ (10 mg) + Z (2 mg) provided in two capsules; Group 3, L (10 mg) + MZ (10 mg) + Z (2 mg) provided in DHA (430 mg) and EPA (90 mg) in two capsules; and Group 4, Ld (10 mg) + MZd (10 mg) + Zd (2 mg) provided in one capsule; or Group 5, placebo (sunflower oil).