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# Lutein supplements extend your lifespan
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/lutein_supplements_extend_your_lifespan_1110131233/
- Published: 2013-11-10T13:32:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:26:42.000Z
- Description: Chinese researchers report in Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics that fruit flies fed 0.1 mg of lutein per millilitre lived a mean 54.6 days instead of 49.0, with less malonyldialdehyde and more antioxidant enzyme activity. The effect has not been confirmed in humans.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Supplements, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

Sunday Nov 10, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- Chinese researchers have recently reported a very interesting study in Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics suggesting that taking lutein supplements may help extend your lifespan by 10%. It is a possibility only at this time because the study is not a human trial and the efficacy in humans was not confirmed.

Z. Zhang at Tianjin University of Science & Technology in Tianjin, China and colleagues conducted the study and found Drosophila melanogaster fed on a diet supplemented with 0.1 mg lutein/ml prolonged their mean lifespan from 49.0 days to 54.6 days.

Lutein is one major carotenoid found high in most fruits and vegetables such as spinach, kale and yellow carrots. The study found supplementation of lutein reduced malonyldialdehyde (MDA) - a very toxic or harmful compound and increased antioxidant enzyme activities in the flies fed the lutein supplemented diet.

The study also found evidence indicating that this lifespan-prolonging activity of lutein was in part realized by up regulating endogenous antioxidant enzymes.

Two other ways that can extend one's lifespan are calorie restriction and intermittent fasting. Both are harder to do, compared with taking lutein supplements, which are commonly available over the Internet or local health stores.

Lutein and its sister compound zeaxanthin are often promoted as a supplement that promote eye health and prevent eye diseases. Both lutein and zeaxanthin are effective supplements. (David Liu, PHD)

Reference

Zhang Z, Han S, Wang H, Wang T. (2014) Lutein extends the lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster, Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2014 Jan-Feb;58(1):153-9.