Lutein and zeaxanthin gummies, vision and thinking in children
What it found
Children aged 5 to 12 who took lutein and zeaxanthin gummies for six months showed better eye pigment levels, less eye strain, and improved memory and focus.
The trial compared them to children taking a dummy gummy.
What they found
Studies in people
Eye pigment levels rose
Children taking the nutrient gummies had about a 25% rise in their macular pigment by day 42. This level kept rising through day 180, while the dummy group saw no such change.
Less eye strain and fatigue
By days 90 and 180, the children taking the nutrients reported noticeably less eye strain and tiredness on a rating scale. The dummy group reported much smaller changes.
Better focus and memory
At days 90 and 180, the nutrient group scored higher on computer tests measuring attention, concentration, memory, and learning. These improvements were not seen in the dummy group.
Faster visual processing
By day 180, the nutrient group showed about a 7% improvement in how fast their eyes processed flickering light. The dummy group showed almost no change.
Nutrient levels in blood
Blood levels of lutein rose sharply in the nutrient group by day 90 and climbed even higher by day 180. Zeaxanthin levels also rose significantly by the end of the study.
Mild side effects only
A few children in both groups had mild fevers or a toothache during the six months. The study doctor judged none of these events were caused by the gummies.
What the authors conclude
- They conclude that giving children lutein and zeaxanthin gummies raised nutrient levels in the eye and blood over six months.
- They say these rises were linked to better vision, sharper thinking skills, and less eye strain from screens.
- The authors suggest this type of supplement could be a useful tool to support brain and eye development in children.
How it was done
The authors note that young brains grow fast and are sensitive to diet, while many children eat too little lutein and zeaxanthin. They wanted to see if these nutrients could help children's eyes and thinking, as they do in adults.
Sixty children aged 5 to 12 years took part in the trial. Forty children ate one gummy daily containing 10 mg of lutein and 2 mg of zeaxanthin, while twenty ate an identical dummy gummy. Everyone was followed for 180 days.
What it can’t tell you
- This trial lasted 180 days, so it cannot show what happens when children take these nutrients for years.
- The study did not measure exactly how much lutein and zeaxanthin the children ate in their regular food, which might have influenced the results.
- All participants were children in India, so the findings might not apply exactly the same way to children everywhere.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- Rajesh Parekh is affiliated to the clinical study site, Sanjeevani Netralaya, where the study was conducted. Billy R. Hammond Jr is a professor at the University of Georgia, Athens and supported as a consultant for the sponsor in study and manuscript development. Divya Chandradhara is an employee of Bioagile Therapeutics Pvt. Ltd., the Contract Research Organization contracted to conduct the presented study.
- Authors work at
- University of Georgia, USA
The paper
- Title
- Lutein and Zeaxanthin Supplementation Improves Dynamic Visual and Cognitive Performance in Children: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel, Placebo-Controlled Study
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Parekh R, Hammond BR, Chandradhara D (2024). Lutein and Zeaxanthin Supplementation Improves Dynamic Visual and Cognitive Performance in Children: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel, Placebo-Controlled Study. Advances in therapy. doi:10.1007/s12325-024-02785-1Free full textPubMed 38363462DOI
Summary written 1 Oct 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error