Lutein and zeaxanthin and cognition
What 3 graded rows on lutein and zeaxanthin agree on for cognition, and where they differ. Counted side by side, never averaged.
Consensus finder Rows from the Lutein and zeaxanthin page, reviewed Oct 21, 2026 How it decides
What the rows agree on
Each block and row is one graded row from the Lutein and zeaxanthin page, with its PubMed record.
Your question
Lutein and zeaxanthin and cognition
3 rows · 3,643 peopleSplit. 2 rows found an improvement and 1 found no difference.
- DGrade D× 2
- ∅No effect× 1
- Rows
- 3
- Trials
- 3
- People
- 3,643
Where they differ
From the rowsThe best-graded row, grade D, is a randomized trial of 82 people (2026) and found an improvement. 1 row is graded No effect, our grade for adequately powered trials that found no effect.
The row that found no difference was larger: 3,501 people, against a median of 71 people for the 2 rows that found an improvement.
The row that found no difference ran longer (5 years) than the 2 rows that found an improvement (6 months).
Only the 2 rows that found an improvement name children or teens in their population. Only the row that found no difference names older adults in its population.
The 2 rows that found an improvement are newer (2024 to 2026) than the row that found no difference (2015).
The rows
2 improved · 1 no difference- DGrade DMacular pigment, attention and processing speed in teenagers · Improved
RCT · n 82 · 2026 · Teenagers aged 13–18 with high screen use and a diet low in fruit and vegetables
10 mg lutein + 2 mg zeaxanthin per day · 6 months
Macular pigment rose in both eyes and attention (P = .026) and processing speed (P = .034) improved vs placebo; visual reasoning, nonverbal memory, a shooter game and self-rated attention and sleep did not change. No significant adverse reactions.
Row on the Lutein and zeaxanthin page · PubMed 42413424 (opens PubMed)
- DGrade DMacular pigment, eye strain and cognition in children · Improved
RCT · n 60 · 2024 · Children aged 5–12 (randomized 2:1)
10 mg lutein + 2 mg zeaxanthin per day · 180 days
Macular pigment rose from day 42; eye strain and fatigue fell, and focus, episodic memory and visuospatial working memory improved vs placebo at days 90 and 180. No safety concerns.
Row on the Lutein and zeaxanthin page · PubMed 38363462 (opens PubMed)
- ∅No effectCognitive function in older adults · No difference
RCT · n 3,501 · 2015 · Older adults (mean age 73) at risk of advanced AMD in AREDS2
10 mg lutein + 2 mg zeaxanthin per day · 5 years
Yearly change in a composite cognitive score did not differ with vs without lutein/zeaxanthin (difference 0.03, 99% CI −0.14 to 0.19).
Row on the Lutein and zeaxanthin page · PubMed 26305649 (opens PubMed)