Lutein 6 Mg

Lutein, provided by Douglas Laboratories®, is extracted from Marigold flower petals, a potent natural source. In addition, each softgel provides significant amounts of natural zeaxanthin which is a structurally and functionally similar carotenoid.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are nutritionally important carotenoids that occur in selected, often brightly colored vegetables, such as corn, spinach and kale. Like many other carotenoids, lutein is an important antioxidant nutrient that protects healthy cells from oxidative and free radical damage.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are efficient quenchers of free radicals in the body, and recent research has shown that these important carotenoids are the major eye pigments of the retina. Lutein is especially concentrated in the rods, which are those visual cells of the retina that are responsible for black and white vision in the dark

Lutein’s role in the retina is to protect the tissue from the damaging effects of high-energy blue spectrum light and oxygen to which the eyes are subjected more than any other tissue in the body. Both light and oxygen can create free radicals that can play havoc with the highly unsaturated lipids present in the membranes of the visual cells. The uncontrolled generation of free radicals in the eyes is believed to ultimately lead to macular degeneration and cataract.