We use essential cookies (authentication, your saved goals/stack) by default. With your permission we’ll also enable privacy-respecting analytics (Vercel Web Analytics, anonymous load-time metrics) and error-replay diagnostics (Sentry — DOM snapshots only when an error fires) so we can fix bugs faster. Learn more about cookies
Luz7.0
Lutein + Zeaxanthin Research
Likely helps
189 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Likely helps
Lutein + Zeaxanthin appears to help in 18 of 19 studies with measurable effects — the evidence leans clearly favourable.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 1998–2026 with a typical study size of 584 participants.
Based on 189 studies · 28 meta-analyses · 136 RCTs · 528,487 total participants
Confidence
High confidence
What the studies found
18helped1unclear· 170 more without graded effect data
By outcome
Vision & macular healthImproved macular pigment density and visual comfort within 3-6 months · 3-6 months
Likely helps174 studies
Cognitive function
Likely helps50 studies
Women's health
Mostly mechanism / observational12 studies
Therapeutic & clinical
Mostly mechanism / observational10 studies
Skin health
Mostly mechanism / observational4 studies
Glucose & metabolic
Mostly mechanism / observational4 studies
Heart & blood pressure
Mostly mechanism / observational3 studies
Inflammation
Too few graded studies2 studies
Longevity & agingRaises macular pigment; healthy-aging links rest on observational data · 3-6 months
Too few graded studies1 study
By the numbers
Pulled from 39 studies with measurable effects
Likely real effects
57%
across studies
People studied
528k
typical study: 584 people
Strongest designs
164
28 pooled, 136 randomised
Showed benefit
95%
18/19 studies
How long studies ran
1–3 months
1
3+ months
5
Populations Studied
Adults6
AMD patients3
General population2
Age-related macular degeneration patients2
Active research area
71 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2024
199820122026
1Progression to late AMDSystematic ReviewCited 45×n=2,445 · very large study2023
Moderate-certainty evidence suggests that antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplementation (AREDS: vitamin C, E, beta-carotene, and zinc) probably slows down progression to late AMD.
Evans JR et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2023)
Large benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
These studies enroled 11,952 people aged 65 to 75 years and included slightly more women (on average 56% women).
People taking antioxidant vitamins were less likely to progress to late AMD (odds ratio (OR) 0.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.58 to 0.90; 3 studies, 2445 participants; moderate-certainty evidence).
Low-certainty evidence from one study of 110 people suggested higher quality of life scores (measured with the Visual Function Questionnaire) in treated compared with non-treated people after 24 months (mean difference (MD) 12.30, 95% CI 4.24 to 20.36).
2Progression to late AMDMeta-AnalysisCited 8×n=85,321 · very large study2022
Taking multivitamin supplementation may not prevent the development of late AMD.
Li SS et al. · Seminars in ophthalmology (2022)
Huge benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
In the network meta-analysis, we found that there was more risk of progression to late AMD in the multivitamin group than carotenoids and vitamin E groups (RR 0.45, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.65; RR 0.56, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.79; RR 0.42, 95% CI 0.26 to 0.67).
Taking multivitamin supplementation may not prevent the development of late AMD.
The nutrient of zinc and carotenoids (lutein/zeaxanthin) supplementation were associated with better improvement in VA.
3Macular pigment optical densityMeta-AnalysisCited 54×n=3,189 · very large study2021
Our objective was to determine a minimum concentration of lutein/zeaxanthin intake that is associated with a statistically significant and/or clinically important change in macular pigment optical ...
Wilson LM et al. · Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) (2021)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Our objective was to determine a minimum concentration of lutein/zeaxanthin intake that is associated with a statistically significant and/or clinically important change in macular pigment optical density (MPOD) among adults with healthy eyes.
We included 46 studies (N = 3189 participants; mean age = 43 y; 42% male).
There was no statistically significant change in MPOD among studies evaluating <5 mg/d of total lutein/zeaxanthin intake which primarily assessed dietary interventions for 3-6 mo (pooled mean difference, 0.02; 95% CI: -0.01 to 0.05).
4Dry eye syndrome symptomsSystematic ReviewCited 2×n=584 · large study2024
Lutein supplementation may benefit DED patients by improving symptoms and tear film stability.
Chu YC et al. · International journal for vitamin and nutrition research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal international de vitaminologie et de nutrition (2024)
Improvements were observed in subjective symptoms, with significant reductions in Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores in some studies.
Schirmer's test and corneal-conjunctival staining results varied, with some showing significant improvements and others not.
Lutein supplementation may benefit DED patients by improving symptoms and tear film stability.
5Age-related macular degeneration progressionSystematic ReviewCited 31×n=2,021 · very large study2022
Acta Ophthalmologica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation.
Pameijer EM et al. · Acta ophthalmologica (2022)
A high consumption of alcohol was associated with a higher risk of developing AMD (moderate certainty of evidence).
Supplementary vitamin C, vitamin E, or β-carotene were not associated with the development of AMD, and supplementary omega-3 fatty acids were not associated with progression to late AMD (high certainty of evidence).
Research in the last 35 years included in our overview supports that a high intake of specific nutrients, the use of antioxidant supplements and adherence to a Mediterranean diet decrease the risk of progression of early to late AMD.
6Coronary heart disease riskMeta-AnalysisCited 103×n=387,569 · very large study2016
Our findings suggest that higher dietary intake and higher blood concentrations of lutein are generally associated with better cardiometabolic health.
Leermakers ET et al. · The American journal of clinical nutrition (2016)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Meta-analysis showed a lower risk of coronary heart disease (pooled RR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.80, 0.98) and stroke (pooled RR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.72, 0.93) for the highest compared with the lowest tertile of lutein blood concentration or intake.
There was no significant association with type 2 diabetes mellitus (pooled RR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.77, 1.22), but higher lutein was associated with a lower risk of metabolic syndrome (pooled RR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.60, 0.92) for the highest compared with the lowest tertile.
Our findings suggest that higher dietary intake and higher blood concentrations of lutein are generally associated with better cardiometabolic health.
Dietary intake of these carotenoids was significantly related with a reduction in risk of late AMD (RR 0·74; 95 % CI 0·57, 0·97); and a statistically significant inverse association was observed between lutein and zeaxanthin intake and neovascular AMD risk (RR 0·68; 95 % CI 0·51, 0·92).
Ma L et al. · British Journal of Nutrition (2012)
Large benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
The pooled relative risk (RR) for early AMD, comparing the highest with the lowest category of lutein and zeaxanthin intake, was 0·96 (95 % CI 0·78, 1·17).
Dietary intake of these carotenoids was significantly related with a reduction in risk of late AMD (RR 0·74; 95 % CI 0·57, 0·97).
A statistically significant inverse association was observed between lutein and zeaxanthin intake and neovascular AMD risk (RR 0·68; 95 % CI 0·51, 0·92).
Long-term AREDS2 follow-up data provide the strongest clinical evidence to date that lutein/zeaxanthin reduces AMD progression compared to beta-carotene.
Chew EY et al. · JAMA Ophthalmology (2024)
Lutein/zeaxanthin substitution reduced late AMD progression compared to beta-carotene over 10-year follow-up
Risk of neovascular AMD was significantly lower in the lutein/zeaxanthin group
Participants with lower baseline dietary carotenoid intake showed the greatest benefit
Khalighi Sikaroudi M et al. · Journal of the science of food and agriculture (2021)
Subgroup analyses showed that egg consumption: (a) had a larger effect on MPOD in studies with a parallel design; and (b) increased serum lutein to a greater extent in a healthy population.
We did not detect any heterogeneity between studies.
Daily egg consumption has beneficial effects on MPOD and serum lutein is inversely associated with reduced AMD progression.