Lycopene, Zeaxanthin & Your Mind

Low levels of Lycopene and zeaxanthin may be linked to poor cognitive function. A study published in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences researched 589 adults with an average age of 73.5. Researchers found that the elderly participants with the lowest cognitive functioning had a higher probability of having low levels of specific plasma carotenoids: lycopene and zeaxanthin.*

Although the study doesn’t conclude whether the low levels of these carotenoids (lycopene and zeaxanthin) came before or after their cognitive impairment, the results show that low carotenoid levels could play an important role in mental function.

Vitamin Health offers zeaxanthin in some of its products including Viteyes® Essentials which contains 15 mg of lutein and 4.75 mg of zexanthin. In addition, lycopene can be found in Viteyes® Multivitamin AREDS Companion as well as Viteyes® Complete. Visit viteyes.com for more information.

* Wada, M., DeLong, C., Hong Y.H., Rieke, J., Song, I., Sidhu, R., Yuan, C., Warnock, M., Schmaier, A.H., Yokoyamal, C., Smyth, E., Wilson, S.J., FitzGerald, G.A., Garavito, R.M., Sui D.X., Regan, J.W., Smith, W.L. “Enzymes and Receptors of Prostaglandin Pathways with Arachidonic Acid-derived Versus Eicosapentaenoic Acid-derived Substrates and Products.” Journal of Biological Chemistry. Volume 282:31, August 2007.