[3-Line Summary from YakAl💊]

Not sure which lutein to buy? Just look at three things: country of origin, zeaxanthin ratio, and dosage.

The key is whether the supporting ingredients include the essential eye health combination (AREDS2) and the quality of the antioxidant ingredient (astaxanthin).

The more certifications a product has, the more trustworthy it is. Getting certified takes enormous time and money.

Have you ever searched online to buy lutein??

Some cost 5,000 won, others cost 40,000 won... Both say 'lutein,' but there's a threefold price difference. What's the difference??

Is it good that zeaxanthin is included, and what even is AREDS2? The more you look at the ingredient list, the more confused you get.

If you buy the expensive one, you wonder if this is the right price, and if you buy the cheap one, you feel anxious.

So today, I'm going to share the evaluation criteria I use to score lutein products.

Hello, I'm pharmacist Eojungi, who handles lutein and vitamin A at YakAl!

루테인 영양제, 어떤 건 5천원, 어떤 건 4만 원... 둘 다 '루테인'이라고 적혀 있는데 가격이 세 배나 차이 나요. 뭐가 다른 걸까요

1. Main Ingredient Score: Country of Origin + Zeaxanthin Ratio + Dosage

I evaluate the lutein main ingredient score on three factors.

① Country of Origin â Where was the raw ingredient grown??

Lutein raw material quality can vary depending on where it comes from, so I scored it as follows.

Rank	Country of Origin
1st Place	Mexico, Peru
2nd Place	India
3rd Place	China

Many overseas products don't list their country of origin 😮

So I dig through company websites, search Google, and even look for patents if nothing comes up!

② Zeaxanthin Ratio â A 4:1 ratio is ideal.

Lutein has a partner. It's zeaxanthin.

The ratio of these two ingredients gets the highest score at 4:1, based on physiological ratios and proximity to the retina and macula.

Points decrease as the ratio diverges from this.

Ratio	Example Score
4:1	50 points (perfect score))
10:1	20 points

③ Dosage â The recommended daily amount is 10â20mg

The recommended daily amount of lutein is 10~20mg. Within this range, products closer to 20mg receive higher scores.

Too little is ineffective, and too much can actually be harmful.

Beyond country of origin, ratio, and dosage, there are other things to consider when choosing lutein.

👉 [Which lutein should I choose??]Check it out for a basic breakdown of marigold extract!

2. Supporting Ingredient Score: AREDS2 Formula + Astaxanthin

Supporting ingredients come down to two key elements.

① AREDS2 Formula â The golden recipe for eye health

AREDS2 is the optimal combination for eye health created through large-scale clinical trials in the United States.

Just as pizza has a set recipe,, AREDS2 has specific ingredients that must be included.

Six ingredients: lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, and copper!

Meeting all of these earns a perfect score; missing even one results in points deducted.

② Astaxanthin — The antioxidant ingredient for the eyes

Astaxanthin is the ingredient that makes shrimp, crabs, and salmon red, and it's also, a powerful antioxidant.

'You've heard the word 'antioxidant,' right? In simple terms, it means 'prevents oxidation'.

Oxidation is like rust forming on iron. Astaxanthin works like rust prevention, protecting eye cells from damage.

I evaluated astaxanthin like this!

Criterion	High Score	Low Score
Source	Natural	Synthetic
Extraction Method	Clearly Labeled	Not Labeled
Dosage	Sufficient	Insufficient

To be honest, among the supporting ingredients, scoring astaxanthin takes the longest 😅

Overseas products often don't list their extraction method or country of origin, so I have to search through entire company websites and even find research papers..!

But you might be confused about what exactly differentiates astaxanthin from lutein and zeaxanthin!

👉 If you're curious about what roles these three ingredients each play in the eyes, check out our, [Lutein, Zeaxanthin, and Astaxanthin Comparison] article!

3. Brand and Quality: Certification Equals Trust

The brand and quality score is similar to the vitamin A evaluation.

The key is 'certification'.

Certifications like GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) and ISO (International Quality Standards) are like diplomas. They're certificates proving "We made this correctly.".

But getting these certifications isn't easy. It requires enormous time, money, and effort. So a product with more certifications is that much more trustworthy.

루테인, gmp, iso 같은 인증이 많은 제품은 그만큼 믿을 만하다고 볼 수 있어요

The capsule containing the lutein also matters.

Lutein is fat-soluble, meaning it only dissolves in oil.

That's why products in fat-soluble capsules (oil-based capsules) have better absorption.

💡 Tip: Lutein absorbs better when taken with fat. Taking it after breakfast with eggs or milk makes it much more effective.

🔍 Lutein Evaluation Criteria at a Glance

Category	Evaluation Item	Key Point
Main Ingredient	Country of Origin	MexicoÂ·Peru > India > China
	Zeaxanthin Ratio	4:1 is a perfect score
	Dosage	Based on 10â20mg daily
Supporting Ingredient	AREDS2	AREDS2 Formula
Supporting Ingredient	All 6 ingredients = perfect score	Astaxanthin
Natural extraction, dosage, extraction method	BrandÂ·Quality	Certification
Natural extraction, dosage, extraction method	GMP, ISO, etc.	Capsule

⚠️ Fat-soluble capsules have better absorption: Caution.

If you smoke, consult a pharmacist or doctor before taking lutein. Research shows excessive intake can affect lung health.

I thought all lutein was the same, but there are so many criteria!.

Even as a pharmacist, I dig through company websites, search for research papers, and check patents to evaluate a single product. It's difficult for general consumers to do all this 🔥

So you don't have to worry as much. We at YakAl are researching this for you!

Eyes don't tell you anything, so you don't know until they hurt,

I hope you take good care of them, and this has been Eojungi!