Lutein is a carotenoid, which is a natural yellow pigment, and it is found in many plants and animals. Carotenoids are natural pigments that are found in dark green leafy vegetables, some fruits, corn, and even egg yolk. They are what gives these foods their color, and they are also a good source of antioxidants.

Plant pigments, including carotenoids, are important to human health because they help remove dangerous free radicals from our bodies. Free radicals are molecules that can damage cells, and controlling them can help to slow the aging process and prevent various diseases.

Lutein is an antioxidant known to be particularly important to the eyes. Lutein reduces the amount of blue light that enters the eye by filtering it out. Some researchers believe that blue light may cause free radical damage in human organs, including the eyes and skin. Where ultraviolet A and B wavelengths are harmful to the skin, blue light is not. Blue light is a type of light that is different from ultraviolet A and B wavelengths that are harmful to the skin.

Instead, it must be ingested through diet or supplements. Lutein must be ingested through diet or supplements as the body does not create it. The only way to increase your levels of lutein is by consuming foods that are high in this antioxidant or by taking supplements. Lutein can be found in the body in the epidermis and dermis of the skin, the eyes, cervix, brain, liver, lung, prostate, blood serum, and breast. Lutein is an antioxidant that helps protect tissues by filtering blue light.

Lutein’s stereoisomer is known as zeaxanthin. Lutein accounts for roughly 11% of the carotenoids found in the bloodstream. Lutein is found in high concentrations in fatty tissue, making up nearly 20% of all carotenoids. Lutein is often found joined with fatty acids in nature.

Lutein is sometimes listed as xanthophyll. There is some differentiation of xanthophyll and lutein as xanthophyll is formally part of a class of carotenoids that contain oxygen, while lutein does not. Lutein is different from beta-carotene, which is the precursor to vitamin A. In plants, lutein and other xanthophyll-type carotenoids assist in the first step of photosynthesis, which involves the capture of light photons.1 In humans, birds, and other primates, lutein is highly concentrated in the macula lutea, a yellowish spot close to the center of the eye’s retina, where precision vision occurs. There are two different forms of lutein found in dietary supplements- crystals that are in an oil suspension or in powder form containing lutein esters. Lutein is absorbed well in amounts of up to 20 mg per day.

How Lutein Promotes Eye Health

Lutein is a powerful antioxidant that seems to have a particularly positive effect on eye health. The two most abundant carotenoid pigments in the human eye are lutein and zeaxanthin. Specifically, they are found in the macula and retina, where focused vision takes place.2 Increasing one’s dietary intake of lutein raises blood serum levels of lutein and increases the density of pigment in the macula.3 Lutein offers protection against the two most common causes of vision loss: cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.

A cataract is when the lens of your eye becomes cloudy or opaque. Cataracts become increasingly common as people age, and are the primary cause of mild to moderate vision problems. Epidemiological evidence suggests that low levels of lutein intake are associated with an increased risk of cataracts.4 Increased macular pigment optical density has been associated with a decrease in lens optical density, suggesting that lutein and zeaxanthin may retard aging of the eye lens.5 In addition to its role in preventing cataracts, lutein may improve vision in people who already have cataracts. Cataract patients who took lutein supplements saw an improvement in their vision.

Lutein may help to prevent or treat age-related macular degeneration, which is the most common cause of severe visual impairment and blindness. 3 There is evidence that suggests that lutein may help protect against age-related macular degeneration and may improve vision in people who already have the condition. A 2004 clinical trial showed that people with age-related macular degeneration who took 10 mg of lutein daily had increased macular pigment optical density and improved vision in areas such as glare recovery, contrast sensitivity, and vision acuity.

Other research suggests that lutein may be helpful for retinitis pigmentosa, a disease of the eye. Retinitis pigmentosa is a genetic disease that get passed down in families. It leads to decreased night vision and reduced vision in the side (peripheral vision). After 26 weeks of supplementing with lutein, patients with retinitis pigmentosa saw an improvement in their visual acuity. This study found that people with blue eyes had a greater improvement than those with darker eyes.

Enhance Cognitive Function

The data showed that lutein can be accumulated in the body and is available to be used by the body. Lutein may have cognitive and brain development benefits, based on scientists’ beliefs.

They have studied how well elderly people think and found that lutein has a positive effect on the brain and on thinking in general. These are all embedded in the brain tissue. Scientists found that elderly people who ate avocados had improved cognitive function due to the lutein content. The improvement was valuable for patients that were older than 74 years old.

This vitamin has the potential, based on clinical research, to boost the immune system, stop DNA mutation, and prevent the growth of pre-cancerous cells. This effectiveness is due to its rich antioxidant properties.

This study found that taking lutein in the form of a dietary supplement improved visual function significantly. Experts studied 37 healthy adults who were divided into three groups. Each group regularly took different levels of serum lutein. The volunteers’ vision improved over time due to the higher concentration of the serum. Some who took the serum had improved visual performance.

Focusing on carotenoids early in life might have an even bigger impact than previously thought. Children who eat healthy from a very young age are more likely to continue eating healthy throughout their lives. Regular checkups not only improve vision but also overall health.

Promote Heart Health

A study has found that people with high levels of lutein are less likely to have high blood pressure. People who have lutein in their system are less likely to experience hypertension than those who do not have lutein in their system.

Furthermore, lutein may exert a cardioprotective effect. The therapeutic properties of the plant could help treat various heart complications. It can be used to improve blood circulation, prevent heart muscle problems, and reduce the risk of death from coronary artery disease.

More research is necessary to evaluate the full impact of e-cigarettes on heart illnesses, particularly in individuals prone to cardiovascular complications. So far, lutein appears to be very beneficial for the cardiovascular system.

Lessen the Risk of Cancer

Scientists studied these vitamins in breast cancer patients. Even though they don’t have retinoic acid activity, zeaxanthin and lutein can still reduce cell proliferation. This can change how estrogen works in the body and reduce the harmful effects of some hormone-related cancers.

Scientists think that these foods might help the body fight cancer. The high levels of antioxidants, antiproliferative agents, and anti-inflammatory agents make them a great option for people who want to be healthy. There are several things you can do to reduce your risk of cancer, including:

Shields the Retina from Oxidative Damage

Lutein is a powerful antioxidant. The phone case is meant to filter out hazardous blue light and protect the retina. Lutein is better at filtering than other carotenoids.

Animal research suggests that lutein was primarily used to treat AMD patients, so the available reports are only focused on the effects of lutein on those affected by AMD. You can conclude that it has its perks, but it might not be enough.

Lutein may help improve vision and offer a potential treatment option for those with vision problems. This text is discussing the usefulness of a certain treatment for eye diseases. The treatment can help protect the retina from damage.

Lutein consumption can help decrease the impact of chronic illnesses. In order to get the desired result from lutein, you must understand the proper dosage to take each day, the best sources of lutein in your diet, any potential side effects, and how well lutein works for eye health.

Lutein and Typical Eye Diseases

Eye disease can cause vision loss and impairment. Taking zeaxanthin and lutein can improve your eye health significantly.

Lutein’s primary function is to reduce inflammation and the VEGF (Vascular endothelial growth factor). This makes it an efficient way to decrease the severity of certain eye diseases.

This vitamin can help improve a specific eye condition.

• Dry eye syndrome – The human eye is a fragile organ. It can easily be damaged and get infected. Healthy eyes produce plenty of lubrication to coat the organ. But, when the system doesn’t create that natural coating, the eyes can feel itchy and burning. This condition causes temporary blindness and red eyes. Studies indicate that lutein can lessen these symptoms and ease discomfort.
• Cataract – This condition causes cloudy patches to form inside the eye, making it difficult to see. Based on a report, individuals who eat meals low in zeaxanthin and lutein could be prone to experiencing a cataract disease.
• Diabetic retinopathy (DR) – Exactly 35.4% (95 million) diabetic patients have DR. A third of those affected experience vision-threatening complications. While 7.6% struggle with macular edema. Even though data is limited, research shows that using lutein and zeaxanthin supplements could decrease OS markers and prevent vision loss. This kind of long-term supplementation can have a substantial impact on diabetic patients.
• Age-related macular degeneration – Without the right supplementation and treatment, AMD can induce permanent visual impairment and even blindness. Reports indicate that relying on lutein and zeaxanthin can help with macular degeneration and lessen the onset of the condition. In animal trials, lutein treatment drastically reduced lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. This shows how effective it can be against inflammatory responses.

How Much Should I Take?

Most people in the US are deficient in lutein. People who consume more than two alcoholic beverages a week, men, and smokers have a lower intake of lutein. Lutein intake is generally higher among women, older people, and those with high blood pressure.

Consuming 6-20 mg of lutein daily is required to obtain a health benefit, according to research on optimal amounts. To lower the chances of developing cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, many nutritionally oriented practitioners recommend taking 6 mg of lutein every day. A dose of 10 mg per day of supplemental lutein has been shown to be effective for the relief of symptoms associated with age-related macular degeneration.

There are two main dosages for commercially available lutein, 6mg, and 20mg. Lutein is mainly derived from the petals of marigold flowers. When taking lutein supplements, it is better to do so with a high-fat meal rather than a low-fat meal.14 While some commercial multivitamins now include small amounts of lutein among their ingredients, and research suggests that the very small doses provided in these multivitamins (usually 0.25 mg) are likely to have negligible health benefits.

3 A diet rich in lutein leads to higher levels of lutein in the blood, which has been shown to improve eye health. The best sources of lutein are dark green leafy vegetables like broccoli, spinach, and kale. Lutein is found in corn in high amounts, making up 60% of the total carotenoids. Orange peppers have a high zeaxanthin content, making up 37% of total carotenoids. Kiwi contains large amounts of both lutein and zeaxanthin. A cup of kale has almost twice as much lutein as a cup of spinach, and broccoli has less than 10% of the amount of lutein found in kale.

Eating eggs that have been enriched with lutein and zeaxanthin will increase the amount of lutein in your blood more than eating the same amount of lutein from spinach.17 Eggs that have been enriched with lutein come from chickens that have been fed marigold petals.

Takeaway

Right now, lutein in a supplement is very popular. It holds a huge chunk of the pharmaceutical market. The lutein pharmaceutical market is estimated to be valued at around $190 million. It is common to add this to food and nutraceuticals.

Many people are not aware that lutein is also used in pet food and fish feed. It is not only helpful for the human body, but it is also safe for animals. A lot of the market is made up of products that improve eye health.

Although there have always been products available that claim to offer amazing skin benefits, many new ones have emerged recently. Most of its value comes from maintaining proper ocular health. It is seen as a product that is safe to use and has multiple purposes.

You’ll reap more benefits by getting lutein from healthy meals rather than from supplements.