What is the Right Dosage of Lutein For Children and Adults?

What is an appropriate lutein dosage? Is it possible to get too much? We've only known about the benefits of lutein and some of the other carotenoids for a few years. So, information is not always easy to come by. Here you can learn a little more about the carotenoids and how much you should be getting every day.

Carotenoids are responsible for many of the colors that you see in vegetables. They are divided into to two groups; carotenes and xanthophylls. The carotenes include alpha and beta-carotene and lycopene. The xanthophylls include lutein and zeaxanthin. All of these act as antioxidants in the human body.

Other antioxidants include vitamin C, coenzyme Q10, vitamin E, catechins, curcumin, proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins, l-carnosine and l-glutathione. L-glutathione is probably the most potent antioxidant, but it is rarely found in nutritional supplements, because only the reduced form can pass through the intestinal wall and into the blood stream.

A supplement containing it would need to include an enteric coating. Otherwise, it would be broken down to its three component amino acids, which would not have the desired effect. Some other antioxidants, such as curcumin are quickly degraded by stomach acid, too. Very little ends up in the bloodstream, if they are not protected by an enteric coating.

If an enteric coating is included on the supplement, an appropriate lutein dosage would be 50mg. No minimum daily requirement has yet to be established for the nutrient. No upper limit has been established. If it is like the related beta-carotene, there is no upper limit for intake, because the body uses what it needs to form vitamin A and the rest is simply discarded.

At very high dosages, any of the carotenoids will cause a bronzing of the skin. This may be undesirable or desirable, depending on the person.

For children 5 and up, an appropriate lutein dosage is 10mg. It's interesting that some of the anti aging supplements that are purported to help the elderly retain their vision contain only 10mg. Some of them don't contain zeaxanthin or other carotenoids, which are all important to the health of the eyes.

Finding a good supplement is always difficult. 85% of the supplements on the market contain synthetic beta-carotene. It may comes as a surprise to you that our vitamin supplements, which are supposed to be good for our health are synthesized from petro-chemicals. It's no wonder that the benefits are questionable.

A good supplement will contain an appropriate lutein dosage and 100% all natural ingredients, no chemical additives, no artificial preservatives colors or flavors. There are a growing number of healthcare professionals who believe that cancer and a variety of other illnesses are due primarily to our exposure to artificial additives and toxins in the environment.

It takes years of research to get regulating agencies to see what scientists have seen in the laboratory. Right now, it's up to the consumer to try to find the most natural products on the market. A good lutein dosage is good for your health, but not if the other ingredients are synthetic. Shop with care and be healthy.

Valerie Rosenbaum has spent years researching the claims of anti aging supplements and skin care products to find out which ingredients and products are most effective at slowing or even reversing the aging process. If you are interested in restoring your youthful vigor and appearance then visit her website http://www.NaturalBalanceSupplements.com to learn more.