Biomarkers · Nutritional

Serum Lutein + Zeaxanthin

Higher values go with lower risk of death. Not measured in our NHANES panel. The curve is drawn from the published study (source below).

Serum Lutein + Zeaxanthin and risk of death

Published curve higher than the NHANES fitNHANES fit higher

Risk of death relative to the curve's reference value, drawn from the published study (source below).

Published risk of death1.56×lowest vs highest tertile of serum lutein (95% CI 1.05–2.31) · 638 independently living Dutch elderly aged 65-85 years, health survey 1991/1992

Serum Lutein + Zeaxanthin by age and sex

Each bar runs from the 5th to the 95th percentile, the darker part from the 25th to the 75th, and the tick is the median. Not a reference range or a target.

The percentiles as a table

Each row is one sex and age band: the values below which 5%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 95% of people fall (ug/dL), from the survey named in the row. Not a reference range or a target.
Sex	Age	5th	25th	Median	75th	95th	n	Cycle / source
All	20-39	6.59	10.9	15.7	22.5	38.3	1,376	NHANES 2017-2018
All	40-59	6.84	11.7	16.3	24.1	42.2	1,514	NHANES 2017-2018
All	60+	6.69	11.8	17.0	25.5	45.1	1,821	NHANES 2017-2018
All	all	6.71	11.5	16.3	24.1	41.5	4,711	NHANES 2017-2018
Men	20-39	7.17	11.2	15.5	22.0	35.4	656	NHANES 2017-2018
Men	40-59	6.82	12.2	16.3	23.0	40.8	710	NHANES 2017-2018
Men	60+	7.02	11.8	16.5	23.8	40.8	920	NHANES 2017-2018
Men	all	7.09	11.7	16.2	22.8	38.1	2,286	NHANES 2017-2018
Women	20-39	6.03	10.7	15.9	23.6	41.2	720	NHANES 2017-2018
Women	40-59	6.84	11.2	16.5	24.9	44.7	804	NHANES 2017-2018
Women	60+	6.43	11.9	17.4	27.4	48.4	901	NHANES 2017-2018
Women	all	6.29	11.2	16.7	25.4	44.7	2,425	NHANES 2017-2018

What studies found when this marker was changed

They describe what happened in those study groups, not a recommendation. See all catalogued interventions.

Measured changes in Serum Lutein + Zeaxanthin, study by study

1 effect with a numeric size, each from one study arm: the dot is the reported change, the line its 95% interval where one was given. Green points move the marker the way lower risk of death lies; amber the other way. Study results in the groups studied, not predictions for a person.

Each row is one study: what was changed, the effect it reported on this marker, and the source.
Type	Intervention	Reported effect	Evidence	Source
supplement	Lutein 12 mg/day vs placebo for 6 weeks in lactating women 4-6 weeks postpartum	Maternal plasma lutein + zeaxanthin 250% greater with lutein 12 mg/day than placebo after 6 weeks; eighty-nine women randomized	RCT	Sherry CL, et al. J Nutr. 2014;144(8):1256-1263.

Sources

Risk curve: De Waart 2001 (PMID 11171874): all-cause HR 1.56 (1.05-2.31) lowest vs highest tertile of serum lutein. Scaled to US values (NHANES).
De Waart et al. Serum carotenoids, alpha-tocopherol and mortality risk in a prospective study among Dutch elderly. International journal of epidemiology. 2001;30:136-43.

Map Serum Lutein + Zeaxanthin against another biomarker.

Map Serum Lutein + Zeaxanthin against another marker