Carotenoids for Collision Athletes
This is a supplement study being conducted to find out if collision sport athletes who are exposed to repetitive head impacts while supplementing with carotenoids will have decreased pro-inflammatory blood biomarkers, increases in macular pigment optical density, improved contrast sensitivity, greater retinal nerve fiber thickness, and better overall visual quality of life scores compared to collision athletes taking a placebo.
- EligibilityCriteria: Inclusion Criteria:  Collision sport athletes:  Penn State student ages 18 and over Any gender Participating in club, or intramural collision-sports and is willing to participate in this study (examples: hockey, lacrosse, soccer, wrestling, rugby, boxing, basketball, cheer).  Exclusion Criteria:  For all subjects:  Subjects with concurrent injury that would impair their ability to perform the assigned procedures will be excluded. Under 18 years of age. Not a Penn State Student Not participating in a collision sport. Diagnosis of a learning disability impacting their capacity to consent. History of ocular or neurological disease (glaucoma, macular degeneration, MS, Parkinson's) Concussion diagnosis within the last calendar year. However, if a subject sustains a concussion during the course of the study, they may remain as an active participant if they wish to do so. - HealthyVolunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers - Gender: All - MinimumAge: 18 Years - StdAgeList: Adult, Older Adult