What does the research show about lutein and zeaxanthin?

Lutein and zeaxanthin

In AREDS2, 4,203 people at risk of advanced macular degeneration, adding lutein and zeaxanthin to the AREDS formula did not significantly lower progression in the main analysis. Exploratory and 10-year analyses found less progression, especially against beta carotene. Macular pigment rose in pooled trials. Cataract surgery and memory did not differ. Lung cancer risk did not rise significantly.

Add to Bio HackChecked 2026-11-09

Status: Dietary supplement in the US. Not FDA-approved for any condition.
Also called: lutein, zeaxanthin, meso-zeaxanthin, macular carotenoids, AREDS2, AREDS2 formula, marigold extract
Taken for: eye health, macular degeneration, vision, cataracts, eye strain, screen time, myopia in children, brain health, memory

Strong several reviews agree · Moderate one review or consistent trials · Limited one or a few small studies · Untested no study in people, listed with what it rests on

Shown to help3

StrongShown to raise macular pigment, a retinal carotenoid measure, in adults with or at risk of AMD, and in healthy eyes at 5 mg a day or more.
ModerateShown to improve visual acuity slightly in adults with macular degeneration, mostly in early AMD, with no significant benefit in late AMD.
ModerateShown to slow eye growth, measured as axial length, in adolescents with myopia, more at high doses and beyond 12 months.

Reported risks0

No risks sourced yet.

What people take it for, and what was found

Shown to help3

Strong

Macular pigment

Shown to raise macular pigment, a retinal carotenoid measure, in adults with or at risk of AMD, and in healthy eyes at 5 mg a day or more.

The numbers and sources

Effect: In 5 trials (445 participants) with or at risk of AMD, macular pigment optical density rose 0.09 units more than placebo (95% CI 0.06 to 0.12) [1]. In 46 studies (3,189 adults with healthy eyes), it did not change at under 5 mg a day (0.02, 95% CI -0.01 to 0.05), rose 0.04 (95% CI 0.02 to 0.07) at 5 to under 20 mg and 0.11 (95% CI 0.06 to 0.16) at 20 mg or more [2]. A 2026 meta-analysis of 9 trials (860 people with AMD) also found higher macular pigment [3].
Population: Adults with AMD or at risk [1][3]. Adults with healthy eyes, mean age 43 [2].
Sources: [1], [2], [3]
Caveats: Macular pigment is a measure of the carotenoids in the retina, not of vision or disease.

Moderate

Visual acuity in macular degeneration

Shown to improve visual acuity slightly in adults with macular degeneration, mostly in early AMD, with no significant benefit in late AMD.

The numbers and sources

Effect: Visual acuity changed by -0.04 logMAR against placebo (95% CI -0.07 to 0.00, p 0.05), a small gain [1]. In 9 trials, visual acuity and contrast sensitivity improved, mostly in early AMD, with no significant benefit in late AMD [3].
Population: Adults with AMD [1][3].
Sources: [1], [3]
Caveats: Few and small trials. The 2014 authors called the number of studies inadequate for conclusive evidence [1].

ModerateStudied in children

Myopia progression in children and teens

Shown to slow eye growth, measured as axial length, in adolescents with myopia, more at high doses and beyond 12 months.

The numbers and sources

Effect: In 10 RCTs (1,035 participants with myopia), lutein and zeaxanthin slowed axial length elongation (SMD -0.40, p = 0.001), raised macular pigment (SMD 0.50) and raised visual sensitivity (SMD 0.53). The effect on axial length was larger at high doses (SMD -0.41 against -0.22) and beyond 12 months (SMD -0.43 against -0.23) [4].
Population: Adolescents with myopia in trials completed from 2014 to 2023 [4].
Sources: [4]
Caveats: One meta-analysis. The abstract gives p-values but no confidence intervals or heterogeneity for the pooled effects [4]. Axial length is a measure of eye growth, not of eyesight.

Mixed results1

Limited

Eye strain from screens

One trial found better tear measures and glare recovery than placebo in heavy screen users, but no change in reported visual fatigue or symptoms.

The numbers and sources

Effect: Over 6 months, tear production (Schirmer test), photostress recovery time and tear film break-up time improved more than on placebo. Self-reported visual fatigue, computer vision symptoms and contrast sensitivity did not differ [9].
Population: 70 adults using screens more than 6 hours a day, 10 mg lutein and 2 mg zeaxanthin isomers a day [9].
Sources: [9]
Caveats: One trial of one branded product. The first author directs a contract research organization funded by nutraceutical companies [9].

Not shown to help3

Limited

Slowing macular degeneration

One trial found no significant slowing of progression to advanced AMD, 29% against 31% on placebo, with lower risk only in secondary analyses.

The numbers and sources

Effect: The 5-year probability of progression to advanced AMD was 29% on lutein and zeaxanthin and 31% on placebo (HR 0.90, 98.7% CI 0.76 to 1.07, p 0.12) [5]. In exploratory analyses, replacing beta carotene with lutein and zeaxanthin gave HR 0.82 (95% CI 0.69 to 0.96) for late AMD [6]. At 10 years, the HR for late AMD with lutein and zeaxanthin was 0.91 (95% CI 0.84 to 0.99), and 0.85 (95% CI 0.73 to 0.98) against beta carotene directly [7].
Population: 4,203 adults aged 50 to 85 at risk of advanced AMD, median follow-up 5 years, 10 mg lutein and 2 mg zeaxanthin a day on top of the AREDS formula [5]. 3,882 of them followed to 10 years [7].
Sources: [5], [6], [7]
Caveats: One trial. The primary result did not reach significance, and the positive findings are secondary or exploratory [5][6]. In the 10-year follow-up everyone took lutein and zeaxanthin after the trial ended [7].
Why limited: This rests on one trial, of 4,203 people. Strength counts independent studies that agree, so one trial is limited at any size.

Limited

Cataracts

One trial found no change in progression to cataract surgery, with lower risk only in the fifth of people eating the least lutein.

The numbers and sources

Effect: Progression to cataract surgery did not differ (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.10), nor did loss of 3 or more lines of vision (HR 1.03). In the fifth of people with the lowest dietary lutein intake, HR was 0.68 (95% CI 0.48 to 0.96) [8].
Population: 3,159 AREDS2 participants with at least one natural lens, median follow-up 4.7 years [8].
Sources: [8]
Caveats: One trial. The low-intake result is a subgroup finding [8].
Why limited: This rests on one trial, of 4,203 people. Strength counts independent studies that agree, so one trial is limited at any size.

Moderate

Memory and thinking

Not shown to change attention, executive function or memory against placebo in adults.

The numbers and sources

Effect: Lutein did not significantly change complex attention (SMD 0.02, 95% CI -0.27 to 0.31), executive function (SMD 0.13, 95% CI -0.26 to 0.51) or memory (SMD 0.03, 95% CI -0.26 to 0.32) against placebo [10].
Population: Adults in placebo-controlled RCTs [10].
Sources: [10]
Caveats: The authors suggest change from baseline may show maintained performance, which the between-group comparison did not show [10].

Doses studied

AREDS2 used 10 mg lutein and 2 mg zeaxanthin a day, added to the AREDS vitamins and zinc [5]. The screen trial used the same amounts [9]. In the AMD meta-analysis, 10 mg a day raised macular pigment as much as higher doses [1]. In healthy eyes, macular pigment rose at 5 mg a day and more [2].

Risks

Checked, no increase found2

Limited

Lung cancer

Limited evidence: lung cancer did not rise significantly with lutein and zeaxanthin in one trial, while it rose with beta carotene, mostly in former smokers.

The numbers and sources

Effect: At 10 years, the odds ratio for lung cancer was 1.15 (95% CI 0.79 to 1.66) for those assigned lutein and zeaxanthin and 1.82 (95% CI 1.06 to 3.12) for those assigned beta carotene [7]. During the trial, lung cancer occurred in 2.0% on beta carotene and 0.9% without it, mostly in former smokers [5].
Population: AREDS2 participants [5][7].
Sources: [5], [7]
Caveats: Lung cancer was self-reported and checked against medical records [7].

Limited

Adverse events and blood tests

One trial found no serious adverse reactions and no clinically significant changes in liver, kidney, lipid or blood count tests over 6 months.

The numbers and sources

Effect: Over 6 months there were no serious adverse reactions and no clinically significant changes in liver function, kidney function, blood lipids or blood counts [9].
Population: 70 adults [9].
Sources: [9]
Caveats: One trial.

Claims tested and not found

That adding lutein and zeaxanthin to the AREDS formula slows macular degeneration. The primary analysis found no significant reduction in progression to advanced AMD [5].
That lutein and zeaxanthin prevent cataract surgery. Rates did not differ over a median 4.7 years [8].
That lutein improves memory or thinking. Pooled trials found no significant change [10].
That lutein and zeaxanthin ease self-reported eye strain from screens. Self-reported visual fatigue did not differ from placebo [9].

Sources

Wang X, Jiang C, Zhang Y, et al. Role of Lutein Supplementation in the Management of Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Ophthalmic Research. 2014. https://doi.org/10.1159/000363327
Wilson LM, Tharmarajah S, Jia Y, et al. The Effect of Lutein/Zeaxanthin Intake on Human Macular Pigment Optical Density: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Advances in Nutrition. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmab071
Wang WX, Wang CC, Hsu WC, Peng YJ. From Supplements to Sight: Quantifying the Impact of Lutein and Carotenoid on Age-Related Macular Degeneration. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Journal of Ophthalmology. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1155/joph/2155378
Pei L, Mo Y, Duan JG. The differential effects of lutein and zeaxanthin supplementation on myopia prevention in adolescents: a systematic review and Meta-analysis. International Journal of Ophthalmology. 2026. https://doi.org/10.18240/ijo.2026.02.21
Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 Research Group. Lutein + Zeaxanthin and Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Age-Related Macular Degeneration: The Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2013. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.4997
Evans JR, Lawrenson JG. Antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements for slowing the progression of age-related macular degeneration. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD000254.pub5
Chew EY, Clemons TE, Agrón E, et al. Long-term Outcomes of Adding Lutein/Zeaxanthin and ω-3 Fatty Acids to the AREDS Supplements on Age-Related Macular Degeneration Progression: AREDS2 Report 28. JAMA Ophthalmology. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2022.1640
Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) Research Group, Chew EY, SanGiovanni JP, et al. Lutein/Zeaxanthin for the Treatment of Age-Related Cataract: AREDS2 Randomized Trial Report No. 4. JAMA Ophthalmology. 2013. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2013.4412
Lopresti AL, Smith SJ. The effects of lutein/zeaxanthin (Lute-gen) on eye health, eye strain, sleep quality, and attention in high electronic screen users: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2025. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1522302
Li J, Abdel-Aal EM. Dietary Lutein and Cognitive Function in Adults: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Molecules. 2021. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26195794

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