Lutein

Lutein is a natural pigment from the carotenoid group. It's found in green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale), corn, peas, and egg yolk. After ingestion, it accumulates in the macula—the central area of the retina—where it helps maintain clear vision and protect the eye from harmful light, among other potential benefits.

Quick facts

  • La luteína funciona como un escudo ante la luz azul‑violeta, reduciendo la fatiga ocular.
  • La luteína neutraliza las moléculas que pueden dañar las células de la retina.
How does it work?
  • Blue light filteringLutein acts as a shield against blue-violet light, reducing eye fatigue.
  •  Antioxidant: Neutralizes molecules that can damage retinal cells.
  • Mild anti-inflammatory: Reduces mild inflammatory processes in ocular tissues.

Benefits according to scientific evidence

Prevention of macular degeneration (AMD)

Chew and his team (2013) conducted the AREDS2 study with 4,203 participants who took 10 mg of lutein and 2 mg of zeaxanthin daily for five years. They found that, compared to placebo,Those who took lutein had fewer cases of severe vision worsening.

Ma et al. in 2012 conducted a meta-analysis of 11 studies with almost 100,000 people and confirmed that higher consumption of lutein and zeaxanthin is associated withlower risk of progressing to more severe stages of AMD.

Improving vision in healthy people

Renzi and Hammond Jr. conducted a 2010 trial with 37 healthy adults who took lutein supplements for 140 days. In the end,increased macular pigment densityandimproved the ability to distinguish contrasts.

On the other hand, another study, this one by Stringham et al. (2011) in 59 young people who took lutein and zeaxanthin for 12 months, observed thatThey recovered their vision sooner after glare and suffered less discomfort in bright lights..

Support for cognitive function

Hammond Jr. and team (2017) conducted a trial with 58 older adults who took 10 mg of lutein and 2 mg of zeaxanthin daily for 12 months. When compared with placebo,They improved their visual memory and attention span.

For their part, Lopresti et al. (2022) studied 63 adults with mild memory problems who took the same daily dose for 12 weeks; at the end, they showedimprovements in mental processing speedand in theexecutive function.

Finally, Johnson and his team in 2013 analyzed 60 people over the age of 60 and found thatThose who had more lutein in their blood performed better on memory and mental speed tests..

Lutein is anatural supplement with strong evidence supporting eye health: helps prevent and delay macular degeneration, improves vision in healthy people and offersEmerging benefits in memory and attention, especially in older adults. Theirsecurity profileisexcellent, but it is always convenientconsult a professional of healthbefore starting to consume it.