Candas, Joanna2025-09-222025-09-222025-08-202025-09-20http://hdl.handle.net/1993/39400Vision impairment resulting from diabetic retinopathy is a growing concern among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, early retinal dysfunction can occur even in the absence of clinically detectable diabetic retinopathy. Lutein and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are key nutrients to support retina and macular health. Consumption of eggs enriched with lutein and DHA has been shown to positively influence retinal function in healthy older Caucasian adults. This research was planned to examine: i) retinal function and macular pigment levels in individuals with T2DM without diabetic retinopathy ii) discrepancies between self-perceived vision status and objective retinal assessments, and iii) the impact of lutein- and DHA-enriched egg consumption on retinal and metabolic health in T2DM. A total of 64 adults (34 T2DM; 30 with normal glucose metabolism, NGM) participated in a cross-sectional study, followed by a 6-week intervention trial involving daily consumption of enriched eggs (0.87 mg lutein, 220 mg DHA). Assessments included electroretinogram (ERG), macular pigment optical density (MPOD), skin carotenoid levels, plasma DHA, glucose and lipid profiles, dietary intake, and vascular and body composition parameters. Individuals with T2DM demonstrated significantly slower ERG responses (p<0.01) and lower skin carotenoid scores (p<0.05) compared to NGM, despite reporting no perceived vision impairment. Egg intervention increased plasma DHA levels (p<0.05) without altering MPOD or ERG responses over 6 weeks. Retinal dysfunction in T2DM may be underrecognized due to discrepancies between perceived and actual vision status. While short-term consumption of lutein- and DHA-enriched eggs improved DHA status without adverse effects, longer interventions may be necessary to influence retinal outcomes in T2DM.engDocosahexaenoic AcidLuteinEggsType 2 DiabetesMacular Pigment Optical DensityElectroretinogram