Lutein and zeaxanthin in pregnancy and children's vision
What it found
In 431 mother-child pairs in Spain, the amount of lutein and zeaxanthin a mother ate during pregnancy made no measurable difference to her child's contrast vision or visual acuity at age 11 to 12.
The authors say larger, longer studies that also measure blood levels are needed.
What they found
Studies in people
Pregnancy intake and vision
After accounting for other factors, lutein and zeaxanthin intake in the first and third trimester showed no significant link to either contrast vision or visual acuity in the children at age 11 to 12.
Childhood intake at age four
Lutein and zeaxanthin intake of the children at age four also showed no significant link to contrast vision or visual acuity.
Parity interaction
In mothers who had given birth before, higher intake tended to be protective against poor vision in their children. In mothers having their first child, the highest intake group had a higher chance of poor vision, which the authors call counterintuitive and possibly a chance finding.
Social class and breastfeeding
Social class, breastfeeding and the child's sex did not significantly change the link between lutein and zeaxanthin intake and vision.
Other findings
Intake levels
The average intake in the highest group was 3.5 mg per day at week 12 and 3.4 mg per day at week 32. This is much lower than the 10 mg lutein and 2 mg zeaxanthin in a well-known supplement used in adult eye studies.
What the authors conclude
“No evidence of a long-term association between L&Z intake during pregnancy and visual function in offspring was found.”
Also in their conclusions
- They found no evidence of a long-term link between lutein and zeaxanthin intake during pregnancy and visual function in the children.
- They say further larger long-term studies that include blood levels of lutein and zeaxanthin are needed to confirm this result.
- They suggest such studies would help support evidence-based health advice and policy on nutrition in early life.
How it was done
Lutein and zeaxanthin are dietary nutrients that build up in the macula, the central part of the retina, and are known to cross the placenta. The authors wanted to see whether how much of these nutrients a mother ate during pregnancy affected her child's vision years later.
They followed 431 mother-child pairs from the INMA Sabadell birth cohort in Spain. Mothers filled in food frequency questionnaires at week 12 and week 32 of pregnancy, and the children's contrast vision and visual acuity were tested at age 11 to 12 using a computerised test.
What it can’t tell you
- This study followed mothers and children over time, so it can show a link, not a cause.
- The food questionnaires may not have accurately captured how much lutein and zeaxanthin the mothers actually ate.
- The study was relatively small and mostly white, so the results may not apply to other groups.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the data collection, analyses, or interpretation; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.
- Authors work at
- University of St Andrews, UK; Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Spain; Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain
The paper
- Title
- Lutein and Zeaxanthin Intake during Pregnancy and Visual Function in Offspring at 11-12 Years of Age
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Anderson MJ, Romaguera D, Saint-Amour D, et al (2022). Lutein and Zeaxanthin Intake during Pregnancy and Visual Function in Offspring at 11-12 Years of Age. Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu14040872Free full textPubMed 35215522DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error