Lutein, Zeaxanthin & Vitamin C

Lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamin C reference formula at example amounts of 10 mg, 2 mg and 500 mg per serving, developed as a two-capsule serving or a tablet.

Lutein, Zeaxanthin & Vitamin C is a reference formula for brands building an eye-nutrition product around example amounts of 10 mg of lutein, 2 mg of zeaxanthin and 500 mg of vitamin C per serving. The reference label behind the default amounts is a two-capsule serving that also carries vitamin E, zinc and copper, and this page covers the three named actives; the brand sets the final amounts for its market.

Capsule is the lead format because two capsules hold the three actives with room for the carriers, and a one-tablet version uses a compressed unit. The development work centers on two xanthophylls at milligram level next to a gram-fraction of ascorbic acid, the assay basis of the carotenoid extracts, and color and stability of the finished unit.

Ingredient Composition

IngredientPer ServingRaw Material FormAlternative Form (same amount of active)
Lutein10 mg (example amount)Marigold flower extract specified on lutein content, for example the Marigold Extract 10–20% Lutein grade; 10 mg lutein per servingA higher-assay marigold extract, with the input recalculated to 10 mg of lutein
Zeaxanthin2 mg (example amount)Zeaxanthin from a marigold-derived source, specified on zeaxanthin content; 2 mg zeaxanthin per servingA separate zeaxanthin-rich extract, with the input recalculated to 2 mg of zeaxanthin
Vitamin C500 mg (example amount)L-ascorbic acid, specified on an ascorbic acid basis; 500 mg vitamin C per servingSodium ascorbate, or natural-source Acerola Cherry Extract 17–25% Natural Vitamin C with the input set from its vitamin C content

Amounts are stated as mg of lutein and zeaxanthin (both C40H56O2, 568.9 g/mol; PubChem CID 5281243 and CID 5280899) and mg of vitamin C on an ascorbic acid basis (C6H8O6, 176.12 g/mol; CID 54670067). Marigold xanthophylls are commonly esters, and the assay basis, free xanthophyll or ester, is set with the supplier.

Intended Benefits & Formula Rationale

This formula is designed for products positioned around eye nutrition. Lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamin C are included together so that one serving carries two macular carotenoids and an antioxidant vitamin.

Intended Benefit DirectionKey IngredientsFormulation Rationale
Antioxidant vitamin nutrition for the eyeVitamin CA Cochrane review of 26 trials found that people with age-related macular degeneration taking antioxidant vitamins were less likely to progress to late disease (odds ratio 0.72, moderate-certainty evidence), with most evidence from the AREDS trial [1]. Evidence: Referenced
Lutein and zeaxanthin in the eye formulationLutein, ZeaxanthinIn the AREDS2 trial, adding lutein and zeaxanthin to the AREDS formulation did not further reduce progression to advanced macular degeneration, and the authors suggested lutein and zeaxanthin as an appropriate carotenoid substitute for beta carotene because of more lung cancers in the beta carotene group [2]. Evidence: Mixed

The AREDS2 formulation used lutein 10 mg, zeaxanthin 2 mg and vitamin C 500 mg per day, close to the example amounts here, and its participants had or were at risk of advanced macular degeneration [2]. Amount, claims and target market are brand decisions reviewed for each sales market.

Available Formats

The lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamin C reference formula is built for a two-capsule version and a tablet version; counts per serving are design choices that the brand can adjust.

FormatUnitPer ServingPack SizeOther Ingredients (typical)Suitability
Capsule2 capsulesLutein 10 mg, zeaxanthin 2 mg, vitamin C 500 mg120 capsules (60 servings)Microcrystalline cellulose, silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate, modified cellulose capsuleLead format; matches the two-capsule reference label
Tablet1 tabletLutein 10 mg, zeaxanthin 2 mg, vitamin C 500 mg60 or 90 tabletsMicrocrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, stearic acid, opaque film coatCoated unit that holds the color

Raw Material Input & Fill (Design Estimate)

Design estimates. The lutein input assumes a 20% marigold extract (the high end of the linked grade), so 10 mg of lutein needs 50 mg of extract; the zeaxanthin source is assumed at 5%, so 2 mg needs 40 mg; and vitamin C is taken at 100% ascorbic acid, 500 mg. Together the three raw materials weigh about 590 mg per serving.

FormatRaw Material Input per UnitDesign FillBalance for ExcipientsVerification Before Scale-Up
CapsulePer capsule: extract 25 mg, zeaxanthin source 20 mg, ascorbic acid 250 mg400 mg per capsule105 mgBlend uniformity of the xanthophylls, fill weight variation, content assay of the three actives
TabletExtract 50 mg, zeaxanthin source 40 mg, ascorbic acid 500 mg800 mg tablet weight210 mgContent uniformity of the xanthophylls, hardness, disintegration, color, content assay of the three actives

Gummy and softgel versions are separate projects, because ascorbic acid and xanthophyll stability in a gummy matrix and in an oil fill each need their own work.

Formulation Considerations

Milligram carotenoids in a gram-level blend. The xanthophyll sources are about 90 mg of a 590 mg blend. A premix of the two carotenoid sources and a stepwise blending order are set first, and content uniformity of lutein and zeaxanthin in the first units decides whether the premix holds.
Color and light. Marigold extracts are orange and light sensitive, and ascorbic acid darkens with moisture. An opaque shell or film coat, an amber bottle and a desiccant are part of the stability plan.
Assay basis of the carotenoids. Free lutein and its esters differ in weight, and zeaxanthin in marigold sources is a small part of the xanthophylls. The specification states the basis and the isomer content of each, and finished units are assayed on that basis.
Evidence and tier. The trials in [1] and [2] were run in people with age-related macular degeneration, and AREDS2 reported no further risk reduction from adding lutein and zeaxanthin [2]. Claims on a finished product and the dose limit for each sales market are reviewed before a product is developed.

Customization Options

Brands adjust the amount of each active, the carotenoid sources, the format and the add-ons.

ParameterRangeNote
Lutein per serving5 or 10 mgExamples for the brand; extract weight follows the chosen amount
Zeaxanthin per serving1 or 2 mgExamples for the brand; held at about one fifth of the lutein amount in these examples
Vitamin C per serving250 or 500 mgExamples for the brand; ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate
FormatCapsule or tabletGummy and softgel are separate projects
Add-onsZinc, vitamin E, omega-3Another active moves the unit weight and adds a stability check

The pilot run confirms content uniformity of the xanthophylls, capsule fill weight, tablet color and coating behavior, and the content assay of lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamin C in the first units against the labeled amounts.

Technical Status & Data Sources

ItemStatusDetails
Reference formulaNIH DSLDThe ingredient and amount come from a labeled product in the NIH DSLD (lutein 10 mg, zeaxanthin 2 mg and vitamin C 500 mg on the label of CF019264, a two-capsule serving; example DSLD labels 232885, 232886, 232888). The label names the three actives by name; marigold xanthophylls and ascorbic acid are set as the forms.
SpecificationSet in formulationMarigold lutein and zeaxanthin sources and L-ascorbic acid, per serving 10 mg lutein, 2 mg zeaxanthin and 500 mg vitamin C; assay, form basis, residue limits and method are fixed with the supplier. 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] Evans JR, Lawrenson JG. Antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements for slowing the progression of age-related macular degeneration. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023;9(9):CD000254. DOI · PubMed<br>[2] Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 Research Group. Lutein + zeaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids for age-related macular degeneration: the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2013;309(19):2005-15. DOI · PubMed

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