Study
The Relative Bioavailability of Lutein and Zeaxanthin in the Presence of Omega-3 Supplements and Their Effect on Oxidative Stress Levels in Humans: A Pilot Study.
In a 16-person non-blinded pilot, added omega-3 did not significantly improve lutein and zeaxanthin exposure or oxidative-stress markers.
Summary Does adding omega-3 make lutein supplements work better? Show / hide ↓
Researchers randomly assigned 16 adults to take lutein and zeaxanthin, two nutrients found in leafy vegetables, either alone or with an omega-3 supplement. The omega-3 group took 900 milligrams daily, including EPA and DHA, two common types of omega-3. After 12 days, blood levels of lutein and zeaxanthin rose in both groups, with no clear difference between them. Measures of oxidative stress, meaning damage caused by unstable molecules in the body, also showed no clear benefit from omega-3. The study was small, lasted only a short time, and measured blood levels rather than eyesight or long-term health.
What this means for you: This small study does not show that buying omega-3 to take with lutein is worthwhile. It is too limited to rule out a benefit, but the result gives no good reason to expect one.
weak evidenceThis randomised, non-blinded, controlled pilot enrolled 16 adults, 10 men and six women, with a mean age of 31.38 years. After a 7-day washout, nine participants took lutein plus zeaxanthin at 12 mg/day for 12 days. Seven took the same carotenoid supplement plus 900 mg/day omega-3, providing 540 mg EPA and 360 mg DHA. Both groups followed a low-carotenoid and omega-3 diet.
Serum lutein plus zeaxanthin increased in both groups. At day 19, concentrations were 2.98 µg/mL in the control group and 3.02 µg/mL in the omega-3 group. Conventional exposure measures, AUC from days 7 to 13 and 13 to 19, did not differ significantly. Incremental AUC suggested a higher mean post-washout response with omega-3, 4.36 versus 3.00 µg/day/mL, but this difference was also not statistically significant. Omega-3 co-supplementation did not significantly affect oxidative-stress biomarkers.
The study was short and measured absorption-related markers, not visual outcomes, macular degeneration or longevity. Its result does not demonstrate an added benefit from omega-3. The day-resolved incremental-AUC finding is exploratory in a sample of only 16 people.
Omega-3 co-supplementation did not show a consistent additional benefit for lutein and zeaxanthin bioavailability or oxidative-stress markers.
This was a 16-person, non-blinded study lasting 19 days, with only 12 intervention days. It assessed serum carotenoids and oxidative-stress markers, not eye health or other clinical outcomes.
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