Many optometrists and ophthalmologists are recommending lutein and zeaxanthin supplements for their patients that are at risk for age-related macular degeneration. Some doctors recommend them for all of their patients, a preventative maintenance. You will find that there are a variety of different brands and ingredient combinations to choose from, including a single ingredient zeaxanthin supplement. So, what's the best choice?

Well, according to the latest research, lutein and zeaxanthin supplements should contain some other ingredients, too. Consumers should check out the amount that is included in the tablet, too. Many manufacturers include just a tiny amount of each. Most studies indicate that the necessary daily dose to see long term benefit is 50mg of lutein and 10mg of zeaxanthin.

Other ingredients that should be included are mixed carotenoids and vitamin E. A single ingredient zeaxanthin supplement provides only a single carotenoid. Other carotenoids include:

Beta-carotene, deficiency causes night blindness, severe deficiency causes permanent blindness

Lycopene, a potent antioxidant that may inhibit damage done to the inside of the eye by UV rays and blue light

Some products provide all of the carotenoids that are beneficial to human health. They don't cost much more than a single-ingredient zeaxanthin supplement, but they are likely to provide more benefits. If you want the best value for your money, you want more than lutein and zeaxanthin supplements, you want multiple nutrients. Some of the best products contain over 70 different nutrients including basic vitamins and minerals, so that you don't need to take a daily multi-vitamin, too. That reduces your total cost.

In addition to the benefits to eye health, recent studies indicate that a zeaxanthin supplement may lower cholesterol levels by increasing HDL (good cholesterol) and reducing LDL (bad cholesterol). HDL particles are large molecules of cholesterol that are able to pick up small LDL particles and return them to the liver for reprocessing or disposal. It is the small particles that build up on the arterial walls and become hardened, leading to heart disease and blood clots. Other nutrients and plant extracts that have been shown to lower LDL cholesterol levels include green tea, resveratrol, policosanol and lecithin, as well as omega3 fatty acids.

Because of their antioxidant activity, lutein and zeaxanthin supplements have been investigated for their benefits in treating or preventing cancer. It appears that lutein, not a zeaxanthin supplement, has the greatest benefit in this area, although the evidence is still in the preliminary stages. It is safe to day that increasing your overall antioxidant intake is one of the things that you can do to reduce your risk of cancer.

Some of the basic antioxidants include vitamins A, C, D, E and selenium. Some of the more potent ones include catechins found in green tea, curcumin found in turmeric, proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins and resveratrol, all of which are found in the skins of red grapes and may be responsible for the health benefits associated with red wine consumption.

There lots of different brands of lutein and zeaxanthin supplements on the market, but if you want to do as much as you can for your overall health, you want more than those two?lots more.