Ingredient profile
Lutein and Zeaxanthin in Zeaxan
Zeaxan lists lutein 5th and zeaxanthin 10th in its 11-ingredient, 600 mg blend, but prints no amount for either. Our best-case math puts lutein at about 6 mg at most and zeaxanthin at about 3 mg at most, likely much less. The AREDS2 formula used 10 mg and 2 mg plus four other nutrients, so the two cannot be matched.
Written by the Zeaxan editorial teamUpdated
The basics
What are lutein and zeaxanthin?
Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids, yellow plant pigments that your body gets from food. They are the two eye nutrients used in the AREDS2 formula, and they are the reason most people pick up an eye supplement like Zeaxan.
Researchers study how eating more of them changes macular pigment, in the center of the retina (Wilson et al., 2021). Your body cannot make them, so food or supplements are the only sources.
| Label name | Lutein (5%) |
|---|---|
| What it is | Carotenoid; the 5% describes the extract's lutein content |
| Form | Carotenoid extract |
| Place in the blend | 5 of 11 (heaviest first) |
| Amount per 2 capsules | Not published (listed 5th; at most about 6 mg by our best-case math) |
| Amount used in research | 10 mg a day in the AREDS2 formula |
| Strength of evidence | AREDS2 dose helped people who already had AMD |
| Why it is in the formula | The eye nutrient most people know from AREDS2 |
| Main caution | No set daily need. The label gives no amount, so it cannot be matched to AREDS2. |
The namesake
How much zeaxanthin is in Zeaxan?
The label does not say. Zeaxanthin is listed 10th of 11 ingredients, so it is one of the lightest parts of the 600 mg blend, even though the product is named after it.
Blend labels only have to print the total weight (21 CFR 101.36). Our ceiling is about 3 mg, next to the 2 mg a day used in AREDS2 (NEI, AREDS2).
| Label name | Zeaxanthin (5%) |
|---|---|
| What it is | Carotenoid; the 5% describes the extract's zeaxanthin content |
| Form | Carotenoid extract |
| Place in the blend | 10 of 11 (heaviest first) |
| Amount per 2 capsules | Not published (listed 10th; at most about 3 mg by our best-case math) |
| Amount used in research | 2 mg a day in the AREDS2 formula |
| Strength of evidence | AREDS2 dose helped people who already had AMD |
| Why it is in the formula | The product is named after it |
| Main caution | Listed 10th of 11, so it is one of the smallest parts of the blend. |
Reading the label
What does "Lutein (5%)" mean on the Zeaxan label?
The percentage describes the extract, not your capsule. "Lutein (5%)" means the lutein ingredient is an extract that is 5% lutein, with the rest being other plant material.
So 5% is not a share of the 600 mg blend or of your daily needs. Without the weight of the ingredient, you still cannot work out the dose. The same goes for "Zeaxanthin (5%)".
The 5th ingredient in a 600 mg blend can weigh at most 600 / 5 = 120 mg. Five percent of 120 mg is 6 mg of lutein. The 10th ingredient can weigh at most 600 / 10 = 60 mg, and 5% of that is 3 mg of zeaxanthin. These are ceilings, not the real amounts, and the true numbers are likely much lower.
See every line explained on the Supplement Facts page.
Dose check
Does Zeaxan have the AREDS2 amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin?
Nobody can confirm it, because the amounts are not printed. Even the best case falls short on lutein, and four AREDS2 nutrients are missing.
| Nutrient | AREDS2 formula, per day | Zeaxan, per 2 capsules |
|---|---|---|
| Lutein | 10 mg (NEI, AREDS2) | Not published (at most about 6 mg) |
| Zeaxanthin | 2 mg | Not published (at most about 3 mg) |
| Vitamin C | 500 mg | Not in the formula |
| Vitamin E | 400 IU | Not in the formula |
| Zinc | 80 mg | Not in the formula |
| Copper | 2 mg | Not in the formula |
Read more in what AREDS2 means for you.
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See today's priceThe research
Do lutein and zeaxanthin supplements help your eyes?
Mainly for people who already have intermediate or late AMD and take the full AREDS-type formula. For everyone else, the evidence is weak.
- In AREDS, the formula lowered the risk of advanced AMD by about 25% over five years in people with intermediate or late AMD (NEI, AREDS2).
- A 2023 Cochrane review found that lutein and zeaxanthin on their own, compared with a placebo, showed little effect on AMD getting worse (Cochrane, 2023).
- The National Eye Institute says supplements cannot prevent AMD, and the formulas showed no benefit for early AMD or for people without AMD (NEI, 2020).
No trial has tested Zeaxan itself.
Food first
Can you get lutein and zeaxanthin from food?
Yes. Most American adults already get about 1 to 2 mg a day from food, and there is no official daily target (Wilson et al., 2021).
Leafy greens
The best-known source. A side of greens most days is an easy habit.
Egg yolks
The yolk carries both pigments.
Corn
A common, low-cost source.
Squash
Adds both carotenoids to a meal.
With no daily amount set, adding these foods is a simple start that carries no supplement risk.
What to do
Should you take Zeaxan for lutein and zeaxanthin?
Only as an optional extra, and not as a stand-in for a formula your eye doctor suggested. If you were told to take AREDS2, choose a product that prints those exact amounts.
Zeaxan does contain both carotenoids in a simple 2-a-day routine; the dose is simply unknown. Keep your exams too: by 40, then every one to two years after 65 (AAO, 2021). Our guide to choosing an eye supplement shows how to read any label.
FAQ
Lutein and zeaxanthin questions
How many mg of lutein does Zeaxan have?
The label does not say. Lutein is listed 5th in a 600 mg blend as a 5% extract, so our best-case math gives at most about 6 mg per 2 capsules. The true amount is likely lower, because four heavier ingredients come first. Only the maker knows the exact number.
Why is zeaxanthin listed so low on the Zeaxan label?
Because it weighs less than nine of the other ingredients. Blend labels list ingredients from heaviest to lightest (21 CFR 101.36), and zeaxanthin is 10th of 11. That caps it at about 3 mg in the best case, even though the product takes its name from it.
What is the difference between lutein and zeaxanthin?
They are two closely related carotenoids, used in different amounts. AREDS2 paired 10 mg of lutein with 2 mg of zeaxanthin (NEI, AREDS2), and both come from the same foods, such as leafy greens and egg yolks (Wilson et al., 2021). On the Zeaxan label, lutein is 5th and zeaxanthin 10th.
Can lutein supplements prevent macular degeneration?
No. NEI states that supplements cannot prevent AMD, and that the formulas did not help people with early AMD or with no AMD at all (NEI, 2020). The proven use is narrower: slowing progression in people who already have intermediate or late AMD, using the full formula.
Which foods have the most lutein and zeaxanthin?
The main ones are green leafy vegetables, egg yolks, corn and squash (Wilson et al., 2021). American adults get about 1 to 2 mg a day from food, and no official daily target exists. Eating more of these foods is a simple, low-risk way to get more of both.
Can I take Zeaxan with another lutein supplement?
Ask your pharmacist first and add up the totals. Two eye products can double some ingredients, and Zeaxan also contains vitamin B6, which can harm nerves at high doses taken for a year or longer (NIH ODS, B6). Because Zeaxan prints no single amounts, an exact total is not possible.
Should I switch from AREDS2 to Zeaxan?
Not without talking to your eye doctor. AREDS2 has set amounts of lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamins C and E, zinc and copper (NEI, AREDS2). Zeaxan has none of the last four and prints no lutein amount, so it is not a like-for-like swap for a formula you were advised to take.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Plain-language pages built from the bottle label and linked medical sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by an authorized U.S. retailer, not by the manufacturer. We are paid a commission when you buy through our order links.
Keep reading
More about Zeaxan
Supplement Facts
The whole Zeaxan label typed out, with what each line means and what the label does not tell you.
Read moreChoosing a supplement
Read a label, know the AREDS2 doses, spot red flags and know what to ask your eye doctor before you buy.
Read moreWhat AREDS2 means
The six nutrients in AREDS2, who the formula is for, and why no capsule can stand in for it without printed doses.
Read moreUSA authorized Zeaxan retailer
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