Lutein & Zeaxanthin Improve Cognition in Teenagers

Lutein and zeaxanthin are crucial for cognition, but we often don’t get enough of them in our diet, since many of us don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables. A new study shows that when teenagers supplement those two carotenes, it has a very positive impact on their cognition.

Research shows that supplementing lutein and zeaxanthin improve cognition. A systematic review found that 10mg of lutein a day leads to improvement in cognition (Nutrients. 2020;12(3):617). Studies have shown that lutein-zeaxanthin improve cognition in children and younger and older adults, but little research has been done on teenagers.

This double-blind study gave either a placebo or 10mg of lutein and 2mg of zeaxanthin to 82 teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18 who didn’t eat enough fruits and vegetables and had at least 4 hours a day of screen time. The study lasted for 6 months.

The results showed that, compared to placebo, the supplement led to significant improvement in attention and processing speed.

The lutein-zeaxanthin was well tolerated, and there were no significant adverse reactions.

This is the first study to show that supplementing lutein and zeaxanthin can enhance cognition in teenagers.

Nutrition Research. June 15 2026;doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2026.06.005.

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