Lutein, zeaxanthin and what the EU allows
Lutein and zeaxanthin are yellow carotenoids. The eye stores them in the macula, the small central area of the retina, and the diet supplies them from leafy greens, maize and egg yolk. Supplements usually extract them from marigold flowers. Claims linking lutein to vision were submitted in the EU and not authorised, so no lutein product may promise anything about eyesight. We describe these products by their amount and form only.
Four nutrients do have an authorised vision claim under Regulation (EU) No 432/2012:
- Vitamin A contributes to the maintenance of normal vision.
- Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal vision.
- Riboflavin contributes to the maintenance of normal vision.
- DHA contributes to the maintenance of normal vision.
Vitamin A, zinc and riboflavin may use the claim from 15% of the NRV per daily dose. For DHA, the consumer must be told that the effect is obtained with a daily intake of 250 mg of DHA.
Lutein products in this category
| Product | Lutein form | Lutein per daily dose | Zeaxanthin |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOW Foods Lutein 10 mg | free lutein | 10 mg | not listed |
| Swanson Lutein 10 mg | marigold extract | 10 mg | not listed |
| Solgar Lutein 20 mg | FloraGLO® | 20 mg | not listed |
| Swanson Lutein 20 mg | marigold extract | 20 mg | not listed |
| Swanson Lutein Esters 20 mg | lutein esters | 20 mg of esters | not listed |
| Swanson Lutein and Zeaxanthin | marigold extract | 20 mg | 2 mg |
| NOW Foods Lutein and Zeaxanthin | marigold extract | 25 mg | 5 mg |
| Solgar Lutein 40 mg | FloraGLO® | 40 mg | not listed |
| Swanson Lutein 40 mg | marigold flower extract | 40 mg | not listed |
Every product is one softgel or capsule a day.
How to compare lutein products
Start with the amount. Products here come at 10, 20, 25 and 40 mg, and a higher dose usually costs more per day, so compare the price per day rather than the price per bottle. Next, check the form. Free lutein is the molecule on its own. Lutein esters are lutein bound to fatty acids, and the body splits them during digestion; a label that gives milligrams of esters is not directly comparable with one that gives milligrams of free lutein. FloraGLO® is a branded free lutein made from marigold. If you want zeaxanthin as well, choose one of the two combinations.
Lutein dissolves in fat, which is why the NOW Foods label says to take it with a meal that contains fat. The other labels say to take it with food.
Where to find the nutrients with a vision claim
Zinc products are on the zinc page; most give 15 mg a day, above the 1.5 mg needed for the claim. Fish oil with at least 250 mg of DHA a day is on the omega-3 page. Vitamin A and riboflavin come together in our multivitamins. One of them, the Yango liquid formula, also contains 10 mg of lutein and 2.5 mg of zeaxanthin next to vitamin A, zinc and riboflavin.
Safety notes
Several labels say the product is for adults only, and most ask pregnant or breastfeeding women and people taking medication to talk to a doctor first. Do not take more than one softgel a day unless the label says so.
Questions
Which vitamins for eyes should I choose?
If you want a nutrient with an authorised vision claim, choose zinc, DHA, vitamin A or riboflavin. If you specifically want lutein, pick it by amount and form from the table, knowing that no vision claim applies to it.
Why do your lutein pages make no claim about vision?
Because the EU has not authorised one. Shops that promise better eyesight from lutein are using a claim the law does not allow.
How many mg of lutein should I look for?
No official reference intake exists for lutein, so there is no NRV percentage on these labels. Most of our range is 10 to 20 mg a day; 40 mg is the highest.
Lutein alone or with zeaxanthin?
The two carotenoids occur together in food. If you want both in one softgel, choose Swanson (20 + 2 mg) or NOW Foods (25 + 5 mg).
Can I take lutein with fish oil?
Yes. Taking them together with a meal also gives the lutein the fat it dissolves in.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 (permitted health claims)
- EU Register of nutrition and health claims (authorised and non-authorised claims)
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex XIII (reference intakes)
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Zinc
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Omega-3 fatty acids
- EFSA: Health claims
Content reviewed by Inese Kalniņa, dietitian.
2026-08-29