OmniActive’s lutein and zeaxanthin enhance vision and cognition in children, study finds

22 Feb 2024 --- Findings from a supplementation study with Lutemax Kids, a proprietary, low-dose extract of lutein and zeaxanthin isomers developed by OmniActive Health Technologies (OmniActive) show that supplementation improves visual and cognitive performance in children.

Naturally derived Lutemax Kids delivers an efficacious dose of lutein, RR-zeaxanthin, and RS (meso)-zeaxanthin — macular carotenoids — in a similar 5:1 ratio as it would be found in the diet.

“In this modern era of technology, where the increasing reliance on digital devices is on the rise, it is important to provide children with the necessary nutritional support for their eyes and brains. According to our research, most children aged four and over spend at least four hours a day on digital devices and 80% of parents are either extremely likely or likely to purchase a supplement to help filter high energy blue light,” Akhil Bajaj, category manager, vision and cognitive health at OmniActive, tells Nutrition Insight.

“The gap in most diets, a need growing from a modern digital lifestyle, parental awareness and concern, and the fact that the benefits of the macular carotenoids are cumulative makes supplementation an effective and convenient option for formulators to meet market demand in supporting eye health and cognition of children.” 

Lutemax Kids was developed to fulfill a market need for clinically studied ingredients that cater to a younger demographic. The extract is an extension of the Lutemax 2020 range. Sixty healthy girls and boys were given a daily dose of 10 mg lutein and 2 mg zeaxanthin isomers in a gummy format or placebo for 180 days. 

The supplement demonstrated improvements in visual processing speed and eye strain caused by digital devices. It enhanced cognitive performance in school-aged children. 

Attention span and sight assimilation
The current research published in Advances in Therapy showed that over time, supplementation with Lutemax Kids increased the blood levels of lutein and zeaxanthin, increased macular pigment optical density levels, and boosted visual processing speed. The supplement also decreased eye fatigue and improved attention, focus, episodic memory, visuospatial memory, and visuospatial processing speed.

An adequate intake of the three main macular carotenoids is important to help support eye health and cognition over a lifetime. However, like most adults, children also tend to consume inadequate amounts of the vegetables and fruits that contain these beneficial macular carotenoids. Lutein and zeaxanthin are also present in breast milk and included in some infant formula and prenatal supplements. 

“Supplementing lutein and zeaxanthin in adults improves a variety of visual and cognitive functions. Several observational studies have found a favorable relationship between retinal lutein and zeaxanthin, assessed as Macular Pigment Optical Density (MPOD), and academic ability in children, even after controlling for the significant effects of IQ and other demographic factors,” Abhijeet Morde, senior director of clinical research at OmniActive, tells Nutrition Insight.

“Similarly, another observational study showed that MPOD was significantly associated with executive processes and brief intellectual ability in preadolescent children. We developed our hypotheses based on these studies, and the fact that these nutrients are missing in most children’s diets.”

The research expands further on OmniActive’s earlier published research on adults, including the Lutein, Vision and Mental Acuity I & II, and Blue Light User Exposure studies.Lutein and zeaxanthin are vital antioxidants for a balanced diet. The supplementation dose selected for this clinical study mimics levels that most children would get from their daily diets should they consume the recommended number of fruit and vegetable servings. 

In 2021, OmniActive launched its Integrated Actives platform, where multiple active compounds can be delivered in concentrated, smaller doses. Nutritears – a patent-pending dry eye formulation, was the flagship product showcasing the platform. 

Lutein and zeaxanthin deficiency
In 2023, OmniActive conducted a parent survey in the US to help reinforce the need for children to have a higher intake of lutein and zeaxanthin in their diets. These antioxidants help protect the eyes and brain function. 

The survey found that six in 10 parents regularly worry about their children’s eye health, prioritizing it above other well-being needs. However, parents are not familiar with ways to support these types of health needs. In addition, parents are not knowledgeable about nutrition. A common misconception is that carrots are the best suited to support vision. Only about one in 10 parents said their children take a supplement daily. 

“This successful clinical trial in children aged 5–12 suggests the potential for assessing the impact of lutein and zeaxanthin supplementation on visual and cognitive development in prenatal and infant populations, making it an interesting area for investigation during early developmental stages of life,” says Morde.

In another study about the benefits of lutein and zeaxanthin, the authors estimated that if the US population with vision problems used a lutein and zeaxanthin supplement daily, this could have prevented 21,022 cases of transitions to more severe vision impairment states in 2022 alone. 

Meanwhile, in other industry developments, Kemin Industries’ proprietary lutein may replace beta-carotene in fighting age-related macular degeneration, according to a company-backed study. The findings may pave the way for utilizing the supplement FloraGLO lutein in the e-sports and gaming realm as well as brain and skin health segments.

By Inga de Jong