When researchers evaluate the benefit of drugs, they also look at the risks, in order to establish a risk-benefit ratio. If the benefits outweigh the risks, the drug is typically approved.

While it is not a drug, it is not unusual for people to be concerned that there might be negative side effects of lutein intake. At this time, no negative side effects have been reported by people taking ?SAVISION?, ?Opti-sharp? or other supplements containing it.

If you are taking a supplement and you have a health complaint, you should report it to your doctor. It is highly unlikely that the supplement is the cause, which means that something else is going on. If you have noticed a decrease in visual acuity, it is important to contact your ophthalmologist right away. It is an absolute surety that the supplement would not cause decreased visual acuity, which again means, something else is going on. The sooner you get treatment, the more effective the treatment will be.

So, what are the benefits or ?positive? side effects of lutein? These may be several.

It is a member of the carotenoid family. Carotenoids are naturally occurring pigments found in fruits, vegetables and other plants. When nutritionists advise you to eat lots of fruits and vegetables in a wide assortment of colors, it is because of the different carotenoids that each color provides.

At one time, we believed that only beta-carotene, the pre-cursor to vitamin A, responsible for the color of carrots, was essential to the human diet and the health of the eyes. It was also believed that retinol, the animal form of vitamin A, was just as beneficial as beta-carotene, but that was many years ago. Now, we know that retinol can be toxic, because the body can't get rid of it. Beta-carotene, on the other hand, is converted by the body on an as-needed basis to retinol or vitamin A. Any unneeded amount is simply discarded as waste.

The value of the other carotenoids has only been discovered in recent years. When it comes to the health of the eyes, particularly as we age, two of the most important carotenoids are lutein and zeaxanthin.

It is believed that the positive side effects of lutein and zeaxanthin include the prevention of age-related macular degeneration, as well as the formation of cataracts. The benefit of the nutrients for cataract prevention is not as important as wearing sunglasses that filter out UV light or avoiding cigarette smoke. But, for preventing macular degeneration, increased intake of those nutrients is very important, especially for people that have a family history of the disease.

Many ophthalmologists and optometrists suggest the supplements for all of their patients. Luckily, there are multi-nutritional supplements that contain both of these carotenoids, along with beta-carotene and other essential nutrients. So, you won't have to take lots of different pills.

There's no need to worry about any negative side effects of lutein. It's good for you. So, go ahead and take it.