Zeaxanthin is a carotenoid, like beta-carotene, cryptoxanthin, lycopene and lutein. Curcuminoids, found in the spice turmeric and other plants, are similar to carotenoids. These compounds are responsible for the vivid colors of plants. They perform many roles in the human body and are one of the reasons that fruits and vegetables are so important to human health.

First of all, they act as antioxidants. Vitamin C and E are more common antioxidants. Most of the vitamin supplements on the market contain them, because they are cheap and easily synthesized. It is unknown if the synthetic forms of those vitamins are beneficial to human health. Naturalists do not think so.

Antioxidants are important to human health, because they prevent free radicals from damaging the cells of the body. They prevent oxidation of fat on the walls of the arteries, reducing the risk of heart disease. They are important to the eyes and the skin, because they provide protection from the damaging effects of UV light.

Usually, zeaxanthin tablets are promoted for protecting the health of the eye, reducing the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and possibly cataracts. But, a recent study in Japan indicates that it is overall antioxidant status that provides protection from AMD.

They measured circulating blood levels of total and individual antioxidants in people that had and did not have the disease. They conclude that as far as single antioxidants go, only low levels of vitamin E and cryptoxanthin were related to AMD. But, they noted that high levels of all of the carotenoids were negatively associated with the disease. In other words, high intake of carotenoids of all kinds reduces your risk of AMD far more than single-ingredient zeaxanthin tablets.

Carotenoids also reduce your risk of age-related hearing loss, cancer and metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a term used to describe people that have high blood glucose levels, high HDL cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and central obesity. These risk factors contribute to a variety of life-threatening illnesses, including type II diabetes and heart disease.

You have to eat a whole lot of fruits and vegetables every day to increase circulating levels of carotenoids and other antioxidants. There is reason for the five a day recommendation, but to get the right combination of fruits and vegetables every day is difficult, if not impossible.

Taking zeaxanthin tablets is one thing that you can do to increase your antioxidant status. But, a better choice is a supplement that contains a variety of antioxidants, including the carotenoids and the related curcuminoids.

If the studies that have been conducted are correct, curcumin (the primary curcuminoid found in turmeric) reduces the risk of a number of age-related diseases, including Alzheimer's, because it breaks up plaque. This means that it may also be beneficial for AMD and heart disease.

If you still want to buy zeaxanthin tablets, then go ahead. It's certainly not ?bad? for you. It's just that you could be doing more for your health, with a multi-nutritional supplement.