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Randomised trial · Advances in therapy · 2024Conflicts declared

Lutein and zeaxanthin gummies in children's vision and thinking

Parekh R, Hammond BR, Chandradhara D · Free full text

What it found

In 60 children aged 5 to 12, daily lutein and zeaxanthin gummies for 6 months increased eye pigment and blood levels, and improved some measures of attention, memory and eye strain compared with placebo.

The authors say the gummies were well tolerated.

What they found

Studies in people

Eye pigment

The lutein and zeaxanthin group had a significant increase in macular pigment optical density of about 25% compared with placebo. This increase was seen as early as day 42 and at days 90 and 180.

Blood levels

Blood lutein rose significantly in the supplement group at days 90 and 180 compared with placebo. Blood zeaxanthin also rose significantly at day 180.

Thinking and attention

The supplement group showed significant improvements in focus and concentration, episodic memory and learning, and visuospatial working memory at days 90 and 180. Attention and visuospatial processing improved significantly at day 180.

Eye strain and fatigue

Children taking the supplement reported significant reductions in eye strain and eye fatigue at days 90 and 180 compared with placebo.

Visual processing speed

The supplement group showed a significant but modest increase of about 7% in visual processing speed at day 180 compared with placebo.

Sleep and contrast sensitivity

There was no significant difference between groups in sleep quality at any visit. No significant differences were seen in contrast sensitivity at any visit.

Safety

Eight mild adverse events were reported by 6 children, with similar numbers in both groups. None were considered related to the supplement, and no serious adverse events occurred.

What the authors conclude

“The investigational product was safe and well tolerated.”
Parekh R, Hammond BR, Chandradhara D, 2024

Also in their conclusions

  • They conclude that supplementing lutein and zeaxanthin increased macular pigment optical density and blood levels of lutein, zeaxanthin and BDNF.
  • They say these changes were associated with improved visual and cognitive performance and reduced eye strain and eye fatigue in the children receiving the gummies.
  • They state that the investigational product was safe and well tolerated.

How it was done

Lutein and zeaxanthin supplements have improved vision and thinking in adults, but it was not known whether they would do the same in children.

Sixty children aged 5 to 12 were randomly assigned in a 2 to 1 ratio to a gummy with 10 mg lutein and 2 mg zeaxanthin or an identical placebo gummy, taken every morning for 180 days. The study was double blind and placebo controlled.

What it can’t tell you

  • The study lasted only 6 months, so it cannot show whether any benefits would last longer.
  • The children were all from one centre in India, so the results may not apply to all children everywhere.
  • The study did not measure how much lutein and zeaxanthin the children got from their normal diet.

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 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error