[Objective] To measure the macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and investigate the effects of lutein supplementation on MPOD in patients with early age-related macular degeneration (AMD).[Methods] Forty-two early AMD eyes,which have been diagnosed by visual acuity,fundus photography and indirect ophthalmoscopy,and 42 fellow eyes were enrolled in this study.Lutein was administered in dose of 15.1 mg daily for one month.The MPOD value before and after lutein supplementation were measured by heterochromatic flicker photometry.The relationship between the MPOD value and lutein supplementation was analyzed.[Results] The MPOD value of AMD eyes and fellow eyes before lutein supplementation was 0.347±0.182 and 0.426±0.173 respectively,the difference was statistically significant (t=-2.042,P=0.044).The MPOD value of AMD eyes and fellow eyes after lutein supplementation was 0.406±0.155 and 0.446±0.128 respectively,the difference was not statistically significant (t=-1.283,P=0.203).For AMD eyes,there was an increasing trend of MPOD values after lutein supplementation,but no statistically significant differences (t=-1.594,P=0.115).Furthermore,there was a negative correlation between the changes of MPOD and initial MPOD in both AMD eyes (r=-0.552,P=0.000) and the fellow eyes (r=-0.731,P=0.000).[Conclusion]s Early AMD eyes have less MPOD.Lutein supplementation may play a role in enhancing the MPOD in these eyes.