Do omega-3 fatty acids affect the absorption of lutein and zeaxanthin in humans?

INTERVENTION: Participants of the intervention group of this study will be provided with oral supplements (tablets and capsules) containing lutein (10mg), zeaxanthin (2mg) and omega‐3‐EFA (540mg + 360mg EPA/DHA) to be taken daily for oral consumption. Participants will provide blood on day 1(end of wash‐out), day 6 and 12. Participants will be contacted once or twice during the study (once during the wash‐out period 1‐6 days) and another time during the intervention (6‐12 days) just through a 2 minute phone call to motivate them to follow a low carotenoid and omega 3 fatty acid diet, a food list consisting of low carotenoid and omega‐3‐EFA diet extracted from USDA food composition database (“< 6mg”) and providing them with a list of foods to avoid. Foods consumed within this period will be recorded by the participants online. On Day 12, at the end of the intervention study, participants will complete a 24‐hour dietary survey using the online ASA 24 dietary assessment tool (https://epi.grants.cancer.gov/asa24/). Dietary intakes will be recorded for checking compliance of low lutein, zeaxanthin and omega 3 fatty acid intakes through their daily diets throughout the study and return of the oral supplements at the end of the study to check for compliance of intake of supplements during the intervention period. Text messages and/or emails will be sent to each participant as a reminder within 24 hours of the next blood collection and a follow‐up message to check for any discomfort due to the blood collections CONDITION: Diet and Nutrition ‐ Other diet and nutrition disorders Eye ‐ Diseases / disorders of the eye Macular degeneration risk; ; Macular degeneration risk PRIMARY OUTCOME: Bioavailability of lutein and Zeaxanthin supplements based on serum levels with and without omega 3 supplement.[Fasting blood will be collected on Day 1, 6, 12 and 20 post‐intervention commencement from all participants. Serum levels of lutein and Zeaxanthin for all participants on Day 1, 6, 12 and 20 post‐intervention commencement and RBC levels of omega 3 fatty acids for the intervention group on Day 6, 12 and 20 post‐intervention commencement will be analysed for bioavailability calculations.] Changes in serum lutein and zeaxanthin levels as an indicator of absorption/bioavailability in the presence or absence of omega‐3 fatty acid supplements.[Observed changes in mean serum lutein and zeaxanthin status on day 1, 6, 12 and 20 days post‐intervention commencement (end of intervention) during the wash‐out and intervention as result of taking lutein and zeaxanthin supplements along with omega‐3 fatty acid supplements compared to the control group.; For this, fasting blood will be collected from all participants on Day 1, 6, 12 and 20 post‐intervention commencement in both groups; ] SECONDARY OUTCOME: Changes in oxidative stress levels in the serum for all participants will be analysed using standard kits for measurements to compare the effect of omega 3 addition in the intervention group relative to the control group. [Oxidative stress levels before and as soon as possible (within a month) after intervention is completed will be measured.] INCLUSION CRITERIA: Healthy volunteers with no known disease conditions