Kemin Industries has presented a new clinical research at the 2025 annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) in May. The study suggested that FloraGLO® Lutein supplementation at a dosage of 5mg in healthy adolescents can boost macular pigment (MP) levels, potentially helping protect their eyes from digital strain due to screentime.
Higher MP levels correspond to higher levels of lutein in the eye and brain. Lutein has been shown to support both eye and brain health in adults. However, there are no studies to date that have examined the benefits of giving lutein to adolescents, nor have any studies explored the benefits of lutein in children at a dose as low as 5 mg. Recognizing this gap, Kemin continues to build on its 30-year legacy of nutritional carotenoid research and innovation by supporting the exploration of the impact of lutein in healthy younger populations.
The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 59 healthy children aged 8-16 with greater than or equal to 4 hours of daily screen time. Participants took either 5 mg of FloraGLO Lutein, containing 225 µg of natural zeaxanthin, or placebo gummies daily for 6 months. Macular pigment was assessed using 2 non-invasive techniques: heterochromatic flicker photometry (HFP) (Quantifeye MPS II) for peak macular pigment optical density and Haidinger’s Brush degree of polarization detection (HB) (MPEye) for MP volume. Assessments were performed on days 0, 90, and 180.
The HB method revealed a significant treatment effect of FloraGLO Lutein supplementation compared to placebo. A 14% increase in MP density compared to placebo demonstrated that FloraGLO Lutein supplementation effectively enhanced MP levels in the adolescent retina, potentially helping protect the eyes from screen-related digital strain. The HFP method showed only a 0.5% increase in the lutein group compared to placebo, suggesting that MP accumulation in pre-teens and adolescents may differ from the patterns observed in adulthood.
Dr. Brenda Fonseca, Senior Scientist at Kemin Human Nutrition and Health and Principal Investigator of the study said that the study reveals an interesting insight that just 5mg of lutein daily, roughly the same amount found in ¼ cup of cooked spinach, can meaningfully support eye health in pre-teens and teens exposed to digital screens all day long.
As screen time continues to climb, targeted nutrition with FloraGLO® Lutein could improve eye health in today’s digital lifestyles. Furthermore, pre-teens and teens lack enough nutrient-rich food risking long-term eye damage. Derived from marigold flowers and backed by 115 human clinical publications, FloraGLO continues to be ‘Science-backed, not borrowed. All Ages. All Stages.’
For more information, click on: Kemin Industries (Asia) Pte Ltd
