Bilberry, Lutein & Zeaxanthin

Bilberry, lutein and zeaxanthin reference formula with example amounts of 20 mg, 10 mg and 600 mcg per serving, developed as a capsule, a softgel or a tablet.

Bilberry, Lutein & Zeaxanthin is a reference formula for brands building an eye nutrition product on a smaller carotenoid dose, with each ingredient declared by weight. The example serving carries 20 mg of bilberry, 10 mg of lutein and 600 mcg of zeaxanthin, and the brand sets the final amounts, the bilberry form and the surrounding vitamin base for its market.

A capsule is the lead format because 20 of the 31 reference labels are capsules, with softgels and tablets as the other formats. The reference labels are multi-nutrient eye products that also carry zinc, vitamin E, selenium, vitamin C and riboflavin, so the development work centers on the carotenoid forms, the bilberry definition, and how wide the vitamin and mineral base should be.

Ingredient Composition

IngredientPer ServingRaw Material FormAlternative Form (same amount of active)
Bilberry20 mg (example amount)Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) fruit extract; specification 20 mg extract per serving, with anthocyanin content set with the supplierBilberry fruit powder at a higher weight
Lutein10 mg (example amount)Free lutein from marigold in an oil suspension or beadlet; specification 10 mg free lutein per servingLutein esters at the weight that gives 10 mg free lutein
Zeaxanthin600 mcg (example amount)Zeaxanthin supplied with the lutein or as a separate beadlet; specification 0.6 mg free zeaxanthin per servingMeso-zeaxanthin as a separate ingredient

The lutein and zeaxanthin amounts are free carotenoid weights, so the raw material weights depend on the assay. The labels name the ingredients as bilberry, lutein and zeaxanthin; the extract definition and the carotenoid forms are set in the specification.

Intended Benefits & Formula Rationale

This formula is designed for products positioned around eye nutrition and daily antioxidant intake. Lutein and zeaxanthin are the lead carotenoids, with bilberry added as a botanical, so that the raw material forms and the format can be set together.

Intended Benefit DirectionKey IngredientsFormulation Rationale
Macular carotenoid nutritionLutein, ZeaxanthinIn a systematic review of 46 studies, the macular pigment optical density rose by 0.04 units at 5 to under 20 mg per day of lutein and zeaxanthin together, with a larger rise of 0.11 units at 20 mg per day or more, and the effect below 5 mg per day was unclear; the 10 mg lutein example sits in the middle band [1]. Evidence: Referenced
Botanical eye nutritionBilberryIncluded as an anthocyanin-rich fruit extract that eye formulas commonly pair with the carotenoids. Evidence: Product positioning

The example amounts are starting points, and the brand sets the final amounts and the format for its market.

Available Formats

The reference formula is built for a capsule, a softgel and a tablet version; counts per serving are design choices that the brand can adjust.

FormatUnitPer ServingPack SizeOther Ingredients (typical)Suitability
Capsule2 capsules20 mg bilberry + 10 mg lutein + 600 mcg zeaxanthin60 or 120 capsulesCapsule shell, flow agentLead format; room for a vitamin and mineral base
Softgel1 softgel20 mg bilberry + 10 mg lutein + 600 mcg zeaxanthin30 or 60 softgelsCarrier oil, gelatin or plant-based shell, glycerinOil suspension suits the carotenoids
Tablet1 tablet20 mg bilberry + 10 mg lutein + 600 mcg zeaxanthin60 or 90 tabletsBinder, disintegrant, glidant, coatingCoated tablet for brands that prefer a pill

Raw Material Input & Fill (Design Estimate)

Design estimates. The carotenoid raw materials are assumed to be 10% free lutein and 10% free zeaxanthin beadlets, so 10 mg of lutein needs 100 mg of beadlet and 0.6 mg of zeaxanthin needs 6 mg.

FormatRaw Material Input per ServingDesign FillBalance for ExcipientsVerification Before Scale-Up
Capsule20 mg bilberry extract; 100 mg lutein beadlet; 6 mg zeaxanthin beadletAbout 250 mg per serving, 125 mg per size 3 capsuleAbout 124 mg flow agent and fillerContent uniformity, fill weight variation, carotenoid assay, color
Softgel20 mg bilberry extract; 100 mg lutein beadlet; 6 mg zeaxanthin beadletAbout 500 mg fill in a size 10 oval softgelAbout 374 mg carrier oilSuspension stability, fill weight variation, leak test, carotenoid assay
Tablet20 mg bilberry extract; 100 mg lutein beadlet; 6 mg zeaxanthin beadletAbout 300 mg tabletAbout 174 mg binder, disintegrant and glidantCompression, hardness, disintegration, carotenoid assay and light stability

Gummy and liquid versions are separate projects, because a carotenoid dose needs its own stability study in those bases. The wider vitamin and mineral base on the reference labels is a development option.

Formulation Considerations

Carotenoid assay and ratio. Lutein and zeaxanthin raw materials differ in assay and in the lutein to zeaxanthin ratio. The specification states free lutein, free zeaxanthin and the ratio, and the label amounts are calculated from the assay.
Light and oxygen sensitivity. Carotenoids lose color and content with light and oxygen. Beadlet or oil suspension forms, an antioxidant and a light-barrier pack are specified, and the assay is tracked in the stability study.
Wide nutrient base. The reference labels carry zinc, vitamin E, selenium, vitamin C and riboflavin next to the three core ingredients. Each added nutrient changes the unit weight, the color and the compatibility, so the page keeps the core at three ingredients and treats the base as an option.
Evidence and claims. The cited macular pigment result describes a biomarker in adults with healthy eyes [1], so claims on a finished product are reviewed for each sales market before a product is developed.

Customization Options

Brands adjust the carotenoid amounts, the bilberry extract, the vitamin base and the format.

ParameterRangeNote
Lutein per serving3 to 20 mg across the reference labelsSet against the dose bands of the cited review
Zeaxanthin per serving134 mcg to 5 mg across the reference labelsSet with the lutein to zeaxanthin ratio
Bilberry per serving13 to 180 mg across the reference labelsAnthocyanin assay decides the weight
FormatCapsule, softgel or tabletGummy and liquid are separate projects
Add-onsZinc, vitamin E, selenium, vitamin CEach add-on changes the unit weight and the stability

The pilot run confirms the capsule fill weight, the softgel suspension stability, the tablet hardness and the carotenoid assay of the first fills.

Technical Status & Data Sources

ItemStatusDetails
Reference formulaNIH DSLDThe ingredients and amounts come from a labeled product in the NIH DSLD (Bilberry 20 mg + Lutein 10 mg + Zeaxanthin 600 mcg on the label of CF026210; example DSLD label 258664). The label names the ingredients as bilberry, lutein and zeaxanthin; the forms are set in the specification.
SpecificationSet in formulationBilberry fruit extract with anthocyanin content, free lutein and free zeaxanthin with assay and ratio; heavy metal, pesticide and microbial limits and methods are fixed with the suppliers. Unit size, fill weight and stability are set in formulation.
Data sourceNIH DSLDDSLD v9.4.0, downloaded 2026-01-10: 50,824 reference formulas merged from on-market labels with complete ingredient amounts. Counts show how labels are distributed.
Market reviewPer marketDose limits, labeling and claims are reviewed for each sales market before a finished product is developed.
ReferencesSources[1] Wilson LM, Tharmarajah S, Jia Y, Semba RD, Schaumberg DA, Robinson KA. The Effect of Lutein/Zeaxanthin Intake on Human Macular Pigment Optical Density: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Adv Nutr. 2021;12(6):2244-2254. DOI · PubMed

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