Lutein and Zeaxanthin: AREDS2 Eye Study and Safety
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Lutein and Zeaxanthin: half-life, strengths and approval status

Amounts studied · Approval status · Half-life notes

What is lutein?

Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids (plant pigments) that build up in the retina, the part of the eye damaged by age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Unlike beta-carotene, the body does not turn them into vitamin A. As supplements they are used mainly for eye health, and they are part of the AREDS2 eye vitamin formula.

Also known as: zeaxanthin, AREDS2 formula, macular carotenoids.

Amounts studied

Lutein has no RDA or upper limit. The AREDS2 trial used 10 mg of lutein with 2 mg of zeaxanthin a day for a median of 5 years. These are study protocols, not a recommendation.

Approval status and how it is used

It is sold in the US as a dietary supplement. Under the 1994 dietary supplement law (DSHEA), FDA does not approve dietary supplements before they are marketed, and the maker, not FDA, is responsible for safety and labeling.

In AREDS2, an NIH trial of 4,203 people aged 50 to 85 at risk of advanced AMD, adding lutein and zeaxanthin to the AREDS eye vitamin formula did not lower progression to advanced AMD in the main analysis. ODS adds that people with the lowest dietary intake of lutein and zeaxanthin had a 26% lower risk of advanced AMD when they took them, and that the formula with lutein and zeaxanthin instead of beta-carotene lowered risk by 18% compared with the beta-carotene version. More lung cancers were seen with beta-carotene, mostly in former smokers, so the AREDS2 investigators said lutein and zeaxanthin could replace it; 10-year follow-up supported the swap (ODS).

A part of AREDS2 that tested memory and thinking in 3,501 older adults found no effect of lutein and zeaxanthin (Chew 2015). If you have or are developing AMD, ODS advises talking with your health care provider about the AREDS formulas.

Lutein half-life and time to peak

  • Half-lifeNot listed
  • Time to peak (Tmax)Not listed

We could not find a single published half-life or time to peak for lutein that applies to a supplement dose, so we do not list one.

How to track lutein in Dose Track

  1. Add lutein as a custom compound. Start typing its name and Dose Track fills in the details from its research library for you to check, and it sits next to everything else you take.
  2. Log each dose when you take it so your history shows exactly what you took and when.
  3. Set reminders on your own schedule, whether that is daily, weekly or every few days.
  4. Your log is stored on your phone and no account is needed. Data only leaves it for features you choose, like AI answers and lab reading.

How Dose Track handles peptides · Reconstitution calculator · Half-life calculator

Vitamin A (Retinol and Beta-Carotene)retinol, retinyl palmitate Omega-3 Fish Oil (EPA and DHA)omega-3, EPA AstaxanthinHaematococcus pluvialis extract

Frequently asked questions

What is the half-life of lutein?+
We could not find a single published half-life or time to peak for lutein that applies to a supplement dose, so we do not list one.
Does lutein prevent macular degeneration?+
It has not been shown to prevent it in general. In the NIH AREDS2 trial, adding lutein and zeaxanthin to the AREDS formula did not lower progression to advanced AMD overall, though people with the lowest dietary intake did benefit, and the formula with lutein and zeaxanthin worked better than the one with beta-carotene.
Why does AREDS2 use lutein instead of beta-carotene?+
In AREDS2, more lung cancers occurred in people taking beta-carotene, mostly former smokers. The investigators concluded that lutein and zeaxanthin could replace beta-carotene, and longer follow-up supported that change.
Can I track lutein in Dose Track?+
Yes. Lutein is in Dose Track's research library, so when you add it as a custom compound its details are filled in for you to check. You can then log each dose next to your other compounds, set reminders on your own schedule, and see your history next to your lab results. Your log is stored on your phone and no account is needed. Data only leaves it for features you choose, like AI answers and lab reading.

Sources

  1. Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 Research Group. Lutein + zeaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids for age-related macular degeneration: the AREDS2 randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2013;309(19):2005-2015.
  2. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin A and carotenoids fact sheet for health professionals (updated March 10, 2025).
  3. Chew EY, et al. Effect of omega-3 fatty acids, lutein/zeaxanthin, or other nutrient supplementation on cognitive function: the AREDS2 randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2015;314(8):791-801.
  4. FDA. Questions and answers on dietary supplements.

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