| The proper lutein dosage depends on your age | | | | how much is enough? That's the question that |
| and your current state of physical health, as well | | | | most people want to know. |
| as other factors. There are no risks associated | | | | Ideally, everyone's diet would be rich in nutritious |
| with high daily intakes, other than bronzing of the | | | | fruits and vegetables in an assortment of colors, |
| skin, which occurs with all carotenoids. | | | | which would prevent the need for |
| Carotenoids are pigments or colors. They combine | | | | supplementation. But, dietary preferences aside, |
| with each other to form all of the colors of the | | | | fruits and vegetables simply are not as nutritious |
| rainbow. | | | | as they once were. In addition, lutein and |
| Beta-carotene, the primary carotenoid found in | | | | zeaxanthin are micronutrients. They are present in |
| carrots, is a red-orange pigment. Zeaxanthin, | | | | foods in very small quantities in the best of |
| which is nearly identical, on a molecular level, to | | | | situations. |
| lutein, is a deep yellow-orange color. Lycopene is | | | | Finding the correct lutein dosage is complicated by |
| bright red. | | | | the fact that it is not considered an essential |
| All of the carotenoids are important to the health | | | | nutrient, like vitamin A. (Beta-carotene is typically |
| of the eyes and to visual acuity. Night blindness is | | | | recommended as a supplement to prevent |
| usually caused by a lack of beta-carotene or | | | | vitamin A deficiency, because too much vitamin A |
| other carotenoids in the diet. | | | | from animal sources can be toxic.) As yet, there |
| Beta-carotene is converted within the body into | | | | are no recommended daily allowances for |
| vitamin A, an essential nutrient. Deficiencies are | | | | micronutrients. But, some health experts, |
| common in developing countries and can lead to | | | | particularly those in the ophthalmic field, have |
| total blindness. Hundreds of thousands of | | | | made recommendations. |
| malnourished children go blind each year due to a | | | | A 10mg lutein dosage should be sufficient for a |
| lack of this common vitamin. | | | | child or a young person that does not suffer from |
| Lutein and zeaxanthin are found within the retina | | | | any eye disease. For an adult, 50mg, combined |
| of the eye. The retina is a light-gathering | | | | with 6-10mg of zeaxanthin is recommended to |
| mechanism that connects directly to the optic | | | | help reduce the risk of AMRD and other |
| nerve. | | | | age-related eye diseases. |
| It is believed that a daily lutein dosage supports | | | | If you are considering supplementation for the |
| the health of the retina and reduces the risk of | | | | first time, look for one that contains lycopene, |
| age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). The | | | | beta-carotene and a mixture of carotenoids, as |
| macula is a sensitive portion of the retina, | | | | well as other micronutrients. We might not know |
| responsible for central vision. ARMD is the most | | | | just what the optimal consumption is yet, but it |
| common cause of blindness or partial blindness in | | | | stands to reason that many of us are not getting |
| the elderly. | | | | enough, since diseases like AMRD are so common. |
| Most sources recommend supplements that | | | | The better multi-nutritional supplements contain a |
| contain a mixture of the carotenoids. But, just | | | | 50 lutein dosage. That's what I take every day. |