The 6 Best Lutein Supplements of 2024

Lutein may improve eye, skin, heart and brain health. Here are the lutein supplements that deliver.

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You probably grew up being told that carrots were good for your eyes. That’s because they contain beta-carotene, a carotenoid that gives some plants their orange color.

Lutein (pronounced loo-teen), another carotenoid, may be even more important for healthy eyes. Present in yellow-orange plant foods, the pigment collects in our eyes, especially in the macula (the part of the eye responsible for sharp vision) and the lens (which focuses light). Lutein’s yellow tint shields these parts of the eye from ultraviolet radiation, much like sunglasses.

Though lutein is present in many plant foods, some people don’t consume enough of it, says registered dietitian (RD) Jordan Hill.

“In general, high-containing lutein foods include dark, leafy greens (such as spinach, kale, collard greens), broccoli, peas and eggs,” Hill says. “So it is possible to have inadequate dietary lutein intake for individuals that don’t consume these foods in appropriate quantities.”

Not all lutein supplements, however, offer the same protection. Some offer much higher doses than others, for example. Others come packaged with different vitamins, minerals and plant chemicals. Below, you’ll find our top picks for lutein supplements along with everything you need to know to choose the best lutein supplement for optimal vision.

This content is meant to be informative, but should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention or treatment of health problems. Always speak with your doctor before starting any new supplement or exercise regimen.

Our Picks for Best Lutein Supplement:

• Best Overall Lutein Supplement for Eye Health: PreserVision AREDS 2 Eye Vitamin & Mineral Supplement
• Best Lutein Supplement with Carotenoids: Bulletproof Eye Armor
• Best Lutein And Zeaxanthin Supplement: Carlyle Visi-Gold Lutein and Zeaxanthin
• Best Lutein and Bilberry Extract: GNC Herbal Plus Bilberry Extract and Lutein
• Best Lutein Gummies: Nature Made Lutein & Zeaxanthin Gummies
• Best Lutein Vitamin Gummies: Ocuvite Vitamin & Mineral Supplement for Eye Health

Best Overall Lutein Supplement for Eye Health: PreserVision AREDS 2 Eye Vitamin & Mineral Supplement

PreserVision

Key features & specs

• Lutein per serving: 5 milligrams
• Certifications: N/A
• Key ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, copper, lutein, zeaxanthin
• Price per serving: $0.18

Conducted by the U.S. government’s National Eye Institute, the Age-Related Eye Disease Studies (AREDS) followed the outcomes of thousands of people diagnosed with cataracts, age-related macular degeneration or both. The large, long-term series of studies determined that supplementation with lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc and copper reduced macular degeneration disease progression by 25 percent.

(Interestingly, the series of studies also found that beta carotene (vitamin A) supplementation could be harmful, especially in current and former smokers, where the nutrient nearly doubled the risk of lung cancer.)

Bausch + Lomb’s PreserVision’s AREDS 2 formulation contains the same nutrients and dosages from one of the AREDS studies. If you follow the manufacturer’s recommendation and take one soft gel in the morning and another in the evening, you’ll get 500 milligrams of vitamin C, 180 milligrams of vitamin E, two milligrams of copper, 10 milligrams of lutein, two milligrams of zeaxanthin and 80 milligrams of zinc.

On top of the impressive ocular research support, PreserVision earned our best overall title for another reason: At just $0.18 per softgel, the PreserVision lutein supplement is among the most affordable on the market.

What we like:

• Budget-friendly
• Supported by National Eye Institute research
• 4.7/5 stars on Amazon, based on 42,653 reviews at the time of writing

What to consider:

• Must take two soft gels daily, versus only one from other brands
• It softgel contains five calories
• Not suitable for vegans (contains gelatin); instead, check out the best vegan vitamins and supplements

Best Lutein Supplement with Carotenoids: Bulletproof Eye Armor

Bulletproof

Key features & specs

• Lutein per serving: 20 milligrams
• Certifications: N/A
• Key ingredients: Vitamin A, lutein, zeaxanthin, astaxanthin, bilberry fruit extract
• Price per serving: $0.54

The Bulletproof brand strives to create high-quality products that are free from GMOs, soy, gluten and artificial fillers. It was founded by Dave Asprey, a well-known biohacker who earned fame for mixing fat into coffee (called “Bulletproof coffee”). His book The Bulletproof Diet was a New York Times bestseller.

In addition to lutein, Bulletproof Eye Armor contains four milligrams of zeaxanthin and four milligrams of astaxanthin—both from the same family of carotenoids as lutein. (Cartenoids are compounds commonly found in fruits, vegetables and eggs that can lower your risk of eye disease.) In research, this trio of carotenoids has functioned to protect ocular cells from the oxidative stress caused by UV damage. When taken together, lutein and zeaxanthin accumulate in the eye's retina, where they help to protect against eye diseases like macular degeneration and cataracts. Astaxanthin is considered a super antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory that may benefit heart health.

In addition to the above carotenoids, Bulletproof Eye Armor offers 80 milligrams of bilberry fruit extract, which may help to reduce eye strain and soothe dry eye.

What we like:

• It contains four powerful eye health-promoting substances
• Free from GMOs, soy, gluten and artificial fillers
• Only one softgel daily (with food)
• 4.5/5 stars on Amazon based on 349 reviews at the time of writing

What to consider:

• Contains bovine gelatin and beeswax, so it’s not suitable for vegans
• No quality certifications or third-party testing

Best Lutein and Zeaxanthin Supplement: Carlyle Visi-Gold Lutein and Zeaxanthin

Carlyle

Key features & specs

• Lutein per serving: 40 milligrams
• Certifications: Manufactured in a GMP-certified facility, USDA Organic, Non-GMO, USP compliant, Underwriter Laboratories certified
• Key ingredients: Lutein, zeaxanthin
• Price per serving: $0.10

Carlyle has been in the supplement business for 40 years. The company specializes in natural products, all of which are certified organic.

In addition to working hard to minimize their environmental impact, Carlyle’s Visi-Gold supplement comes with an impressive list of certifications that vouch for its quality. To start, the supplement is manufactured in a GMP facility, meaning the facility used the FDA’s “Good Manufacturing Practices” during manufacturing. Given that the FDA does not rigorously regulate supplements, the GMP stamp can provide peace of mind. On top of that, all Carlyle supplements comply with US Pharmacopeia (USP) standards for heavy metals, and are certified by Underwriter Laboratories, a safety science company.

The Visi-Gold Lutein and Zeaxanthin supplement offers a whopping 40 milligrams of lutein. That’s more than any other supplement in this review—and roughly four times the recommended intake. The lutein comes paired with two milligrams of zeaxanthin, which is another important plant chemical thought to work synergistically with lutein to protect the eyes from aging. This is among the most budget-friendly options in this review at $.10 per serving. Users are recommended to take one quick-release soft gel daily with a meal.

What we like:

• Impressive certifications for quality and potency
• Made in the U.S., non-GMO and gluten-, wheat- and dairy free
• Budget-friendly
• 4.6/5 star review average on Amazon from 6,000+ ratings at the time of writing

What to consider:

• Contains gelatin and beeswax, so it’s not suitable for vegans
• Uses trace amounts of titanium dioxide, a group 2B carcinogen

Best Lutein and Bilberry Extract: GNC Herbal Plus Bilberry Extract and Lutein

GNC

Key features & specs

• Lutein per serving: 10 milligrams
• Certifications: N/A
• Key ingredients: Bilberry fruit extract, lutein, zeaxanthin
• Price per serving: $0.67

Based in Pittsburgh, PA, GNC is a heavy hitter in the supplement world. The company has been around since 1935, and offers two guarantees that can help consumers feel more secure in their buying decisions. One such offer: GNC’s price match guarantee. Find an identical product at a lower price, and they’ll match it. On top of that, GNC also provides a 30-day money-back guarantee.

The Bilberry Extract & Lutein supplement comes from GNC’s Herbal Plus line. It includes 10 milligrams of lutein and two milligrams of zeaxanthin, which are the dosages used in the Age-Related Eye Disease Studies (AREDS) mentioned earlier. (That said, it lacks the other AREDS-backed ingredients.)

In addition to lutein and zeaxanthin, the GNC product also offers 100 milligrams of bilberry fruit extract, which is thought to alleviate dry eye symptoms. On Amazon, this supplement has a rating of 4.6/5-star rating, based on 366 reviews at the time of writing.

What we like:

• Money-back and price match guarantees
• Budget-friendly
• May offer relief for people with dry eye
• Serving size is only one capsule daily

What to consider:

• Not third-party tested
• Doesn't come with certifications for potency or purity

Best Lutein Gummies: Nature Made Lutein & Zeaxanthin Gummies

Nature Made

Key features & specs

• Lutein per serving: 20 milligrams
• Certifications: N/A
• Key ingredients: Lutein, zeaxanthin
• Price per serving: $0.55

Nature Made is a trusted supplement brand with many products earning the impressive USP verification mark. Nature Made Lutein & Zeaxanthin Gummies is one of the exceptions, but it made our list because of its chewable, fruity gummy form.

Additionally, while many gummies offer much smaller amounts of lutein than what’s available in a typical lutein softgel or capsule, each two-gummy serving of Nature Made gummies provides a robust 20 milligrams of lutein (double the amount of lutein shown to be effective in research) and four milligrams of zeaxanthin.

On top of that, in addition to being free from artificial colors and flavors, the gummies are also free from gelatin, an animal-product present in many gummy chewables.

What we like:

• Easy-to-consume, fruit flavored gummy form
• Free from artificial flavors and colors
• Vegan (no gelatin) and gluten-free
• 4.1/5 stars on Amazon, based on 38 ratings at the time of writing

What to consider:

• Contains 25 calories, six grams carbohydrates, four grams sugar, four grams added sugar and 14 milligrams sodium per serving
• Not third-party tested

Best Lutein Vitamin Gummies: Ocuvite Vitamin & Mineral Supplement for Eye Health

Amazon

Key features & specs

• Lutein per serving: Five milligrams
• Certifications: N/A
• Key ingredients: Lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc
• Price per serving: $0.46

Bausch + Lomb specializes in products for eye care. That’s probably why the company offers more than one eye health supplement. In addition to the research-backed PreserVision’s AREDS 2 Formula that won best overall in this review, Bausch + Lomb also makes the Ocuvite Eye Health Gummies.

The Ocuvite gummies contain the same nutrients from the Bausch + Lomb PresserVision brand but in much smaller amounts. The serving size (two gummies daily) supplies only half the lutein (five milligrams) and zeaxanthin (one milligarm) from Age-Related Eye Disease Studies (AREDS). In other words, to get to the dosage used in AREDS, you’d need to double the serving size. However, each serving does also provide 100 milligrams of vitamin C, 13.5 milligrams of vitamin E and nine milligrams of zinc.

What we like:

• Contains the ingredients used in the AREDS trials
• Includes other vitamins and minerals
• Manufactured by a reputable eye health company
• 4.6/5 stars on Amazon, based on 2,071 ratings at the time of writing

What to consider:

• Each serving contains 20 calories, five grams carbohydrates, three grams sugar and three grams added sugar
• Made with corn syrup and gelatin

What Is Lutein?

An antioxidant, lutein is a member of a family of beneficial plant chemicals called carotenoids. (Other carotenoids include zeaxanthin and beta carotene). These pigments give plants their bright yellow, orange and red colors.

When ingested, lutein functions as an antioxidant that helps to protect bodily tissues and cells—especially in the eyes—from free radical damage. In the eyes, lutein may also help to filter out harmful ultraviolet rays, protecting the eyes from sun damage. It’s present in the highest amounts in the macula, a part of the retina, and may protect this part of the eye from aging.

Best Sources of Lutein

You’ll find lutein and the carotenoid zeaxanthin in several foods:

• Most yellow and orange plant foods 
• Green vegetables such as broccoli, peas and lettuce (even though lutein is a yellow pigment, chlorophyll camouflages lutein’s yellow tint)
• Egg yolks

Benefits of Lutein

“Lutein has many health benefits,” explains Hill. “Those include eye health, skin health, cardiovascular health and cognitive function.” 

Below we’ve outlined some of the research in favor of each benefit.

Improved eye health

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) affects the macula, the part of the eye in the retina that helps you see details. When the macula doesn’t work properly, your central vision can become blurry, cloudy or dark.

Several studies have linked an increased intake of lutein with a reduced risk of AMD. The AREDS trial, one of the most well-known of these studies, determined that lutein, zeaxanthin and a host of other nutrients reduced disease progression by 25 percent.

In addition to reducing your risk of macular degeneration, lutein may protect visual function in other ways. For one, research shows that it helps to reduce the likelihood of developing cataracts, the clouding of the eye lens. On top of that, it may help to alleviate eye strain.

Brain protection

Lutein’s antioxidant effects may do more than protect the eyes from free radical damage. It may also protect the brain from aging.

When researchers from the University of Toronto crunched the data from seven clinical trials, they determined that older adults who took lutein supplements were able to slow the development of age-related cognitive decline. This was especially true for executive functions, the thinking and planning actions of the brain.

Heart disease prevention

According to the pooled data from 71 studies that included 387,569 participants, higher lutein intakes are associated with a lower risk of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that raise your risk of heart disease. According to the same research, higher lutein intakes may also protect against inflammation and hardening of the arteries (called atherosclerosis).

Natural UV protection

Lutein works like natural sunscreen in the skin to filter out some of the sun’s harmful rays. In addition to protecting you from skin cancer, lutein may help to prevent skin damage by reducing oxidative damage that causes fine lines and sagging.

Side Effects of Lutein

Lutein supplements are classified as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“That means it’s considered safe to consume if following recommended dosage guidelines,” says Hill. “However, if consumed in high doses, some people have claimed it can cause mild side effects such as GI disturbances like nausea, diarrhea and stomach cramps.”

How to Choose the Best Lutein Supplement for You

Because the FDA doesn’t regulate dietary supplements, you’ll want to do some detective work when shopping for lutein or any other supplement. Ideally, choose trusted brands that have been tested for purity and potency.

Hill adds, “When looking for a lutein supplement to take, I recommend making sure the lutein is derived from a natural source, like marigold flowers. This form of lutein is considered more bioavailable and effective. It is common to see zeaxanthin in a lutein supplement. The two carotenoids often work synergistically to support eye health. If someone is taking lutein specifically for eye health, getting a lutein supplement that also contains zeaxanthin can be helpful.”

Our Methodology: How We Chose the Best Lutein Supplements

When choosing the best lutein supplements, we used several criteria:

• Quality: While not required, we prioritize products that are third-party tested for purity (no harmful ingredients) and the potency listed on the nutrition label. We also look for Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) certified companies, since they must follow strict FDA quality standards during manufacturing.
• Customer Reviews: We pay careful attention to customer reviews. Not only do we look for products with mostly 5/5-star reviews, but we also make sure the manufacturer addresses any customer concerns that come up.
• Cost: Though we don’t exclude pricier supplements, we do our best to include a diverse range of price points, enabling you to find a supplement that fits into your budget.

Lutein Supplements FAQs

Can lutein improve blurred vision?

Before taking lutein or any other dietary supplement, it’s a good idea to check with your doctor. This is especially true if you’re experiencing problems with your vision. See an eye doctor to discover why you’re experiencing blurred vision and what you can do about it. 

That said, if your blurred vision is caused by macular degeneration, lutein may be able to slow the progression of the disease. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, you’ll want to pair supplements with a diet rich in eye-healthy foods such as dark leafy greens and brightly colored fruits and vegetables.

Is lutein hard on the liver?

“There are no known direct negative effects of lutein on the liver or kidneys,” says Hill. “However, if someone has a pre-existing liver or kidney condition, they should speak with a healthcare professional before taking any supplement.”

When should I take lutein supplements?

According to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation, take lutein with food. Your body will absorb more lutein if fat is also present. Taking it with a fish oil or omega-3 supplement would work, too.

How much lutein should I take?

There’s no set dose for lutein. The AREDS study of more than 4,000 people included 10 milligrams of lutein daily.

How long does it take for lutein to start working?

There’s not enough research to say how soon someone might notice benefits from lutein supplements. That said, many clinical trials have measured significant health benefits in people who took the supplements for less than one year.

Takeaway: Are Lutein Supplements Worth It?

When deciding whether to take lutein supplements, take two factors into account: your diet and your health needs, says Hill.

If you consume more than five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, you may be getting all the lutein you need from food alone, she says. This is especially true if you consume an abundance of dark leafy greens.

On the other hand, if you’re the type of person who struggles to consume veggies, then a lutein or fruit and vegetable supplement may provide added protection.

“Lutein supplements can be beneficial for folks that don’t get enough lutein through their diet, are at a higher risk for eye conditions like age-related macular degeneration or cataracts, have excessive exposure to blue light or have certain health conditions or take medications that may affect lutein absorption or increase its requirements,” Hill says.

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