Home Ingredients ZeaONE® (Natural Zeaxanthin from Marigold)
Eye Health

ZeaONE® (Natural Zeaxanthin from Marigold)

Tagetes erecta
Evidence Level
Moderate
1 Clinical Trial
5 Documented Benefits
3/5 Evidence Score

ZeaONE® is a natural zeaxanthin ingredient made by Kemin Industries from marigold flowers (Tagetes erecta) and sold to companies that make finished supplements; it is the same natural zeaxanthin sold to consumers as OPTISHARP™ Natural. Zeaxanthin is one of the two main pigments in the macula, the small central part of the retina. There are no published trials of the ZeaONE brand itself, so everything here comes from research on zeaxanthin in general, and nearly all of that research was done in people who already had age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a diagnosed eye disease. The largest of those trials, AREDS2, did not meet its main goal. If your vision is changing, see an optometrist or ophthalmologist: AMD is diagnosed and monitored with an eye examination, and a supplement is not a substitute for that.

Studied Dose 2 mg/day zeaxanthin together with 10 mg/day lutein (the AREDS2 dose, in a trial whose main result was not statistically significant).
Active Compound RR-Zeaxanthin from Tagetes erecta marigold flowers

Benefits

Natural Zeaxanthin Source for Eye Health

ZeaONE is marigold-sourced zeaxanthin sold to supplement manufacturers. No study has ever tested the ZeaONE brand. Everything on this page comes from studies of zeaxanthin in general, and in the largest of those it was given together with lutein, not on its own.

Supported by Trial 1

What AREDS2 Actually Found

AREDS2 enrolled 4,203 people who already had age-related macular degeneration and added lutein plus zeaxanthin to the existing AREDS supplement. In the main analysis it did not significantly slow progression to advanced AMD (hazard ratio 0.90, 98.7% confidence interval 0.76 to 1.07, P = 0.12), and the authors concluded it did not further reduce risk. Its practical contribution was showing that lutein plus zeaxanthin could stand in for beta-carotene in the formula. It tested the two carotenoids together on top of an existing formula, not zeaxanthin alone, and not ZeaONE.

Supported by Trial 1

Foveal Macular Pigment

Zeaxanthin is the pigment most concentrated at the very center of the macula. A meta-analysis of 20 randomized trials (938 people with AMD and 826 healthy people) found that lutein and zeaxanthin supplements raise macular pigment optical density. That is a measurement of pigment in the eye, not a measurement of eyesight, and raising it has not been shown to make anyone see better. No ZeaONE product was used in those trials.

Supported by Trial 1

Combined with FloraGLO Lutein

Zeaxanthin and lutein both come from marigold flowers and are usually sold together, which is how they were tested in AREDS2. In a 60-person trial in people with AMD that compared them directly, lutein did better than zeaxanthin for low-contrast visual acuity and glare recovery.

Supported by Trial 1

Sustainable Marigold Cultivation

Kemin describes its marigold supply chain as sustainable. That is a sourcing claim made by the manufacturer, and it says nothing about whether the ingredient helps your eyes.

Mechanism of action

1

Same as OPTISHARP Natural

Zeaxanthin builds up in the macula, where it absorbs blue light and acts as an antioxidant. This is the proposed explanation for why it is studied for eye health. It is a rationale, not evidence of a benefit, and it has never been tested with the ZeaONE brand.

2

Natural RR-Zeaxanthin Form

Zeaxanthin from marigolds is the RR form, the same form found in the human retina. No trial has compared this form against other forms for any vision outcome, so the practical advantage is unproven.

3

Foveal Concentration

Zeaxanthin preferentially concentrates in foveal center where most acute vision occurs.

4

Marigold Source Alignment

Lutein and zeaxanthin both come from the same plant, Tagetes erecta (marigold). This is a sourcing detail, not a mechanism and not a health benefit.

Clinical trials

1
AREDS2: Main Result Was Not Statistically Significant
PubMed

AREDS2 was a large randomized trial that added lutein (10 mg) plus zeaxanthin (2 mg) to the existing AREDS supplement. It did not test ZeaONE, and it did not test zeaxanthin by itself.

4,203 people who already had age-related macular degeneration and were at risk of it getting worse.

In the main analysis, adding lutein plus zeaxanthin did not significantly reduce progression to advanced AMD (hazard ratio 0.90, 98.7% confidence interval 0.76 to 1.07, P = 0.12). The authors concluded that it did not further reduce risk. The trial's practical finding was that lutein plus zeaxanthin could replace beta-carotene in the formula.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Any change in your vision needs an eye examination, not a supplement. Age-related macular degeneration is diagnosed and monitored by an optometrist or ophthalmologist, and self-treating can delay that.
Generally well tolerated in the trials, at doses of 2 mg to 8 mg a day.
Mild GI distress (rare).
Yellowing of skin at very high doses.

Important Drug interactions

There is no ZeaONE-specific safety data; the points below apply to zeaxanthin in general.
Generally minimal drug interactions.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: supplemental doses have not been studied, so ask your doctor first.
Children: not studied, so ask a pediatrician before giving it.

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Frequently asked questions about ZeaONE® (Natural Zeaxanthin from Marigold)

What is ZeaONE?

ZeaONE® is a natural zeaxanthin ingredient made by Kemin Industries from marigold flowers (Tagetes erecta) and sold to companies that make finished supplements; it is the same natural zeaxanthin sold to consumers as Optisharp™ Natural.

What is ZeaONE used for?

ZeaONE is researched primarily for Eye Health. ZeaONE is marigold-sourced zeaxanthin sold to supplement manufacturers. No study has ever tested the ZeaONE brand. Everything on this page comes from studies of zeaxanthin in general, and in the largest of those it was given together with l…

What is the recommended dosage of ZeaONE?

The clinically studied dose is 2 mg/day zeaxanthin together with 10 mg/day lutein (the AREDS2 dose, in a trial whose main result was not statistically significant). Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is ZeaONE safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, ZeaONE is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Any change in your vision needs an eye examination, not a supplement. Age-related macular degeneration is diagnosed and monitored by an optometrist or ophthalmologist, and self-treating can delay that. Generally well tolerated in the trials, at doses of 2 mg to 8 mg a day. It may also interact with some medications. ZeaONE is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does ZeaONE interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: There is no ZeaONE-specific safety data; the points below apply to zeaxanthin in general. Generally minimal drug interactions. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for ZeaONE?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for ZeaONE as Moderate (3 out of 5). It is backed by 1 clinical trial and 4 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(4 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) Research Group. Lutein + zeaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids for age-related macular degeneration: the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2013;309(19):2005-15. doi: 10.1001/jama.2013.4997.PubMedUsed to support: Large trial in 4,203 people who already had AMD, testing 2 mg/day zeaxanthin plus 10 mg/day lutein added to the existing AREDS formula; the primary analysis was null (hazard ratio 0.90, 98.7% CI 0.76 to 1.07, P = 0.12), and it did not test zeaxanthin alone. ZeaONE is a marigold-derived natural zeaxanthin; no ZeaONE-specific outcome trials exist, so this represents parent zeaxanthin evidence. Primary endpoint was null but supported zeaxanthin as a safe carotenoid substitute for beta-carotene.
  2. Richer SP, Stiles W, Graham-Hoffman K, Levin M, Ruskin D, Wrobel J, Park DW, Thomas C. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of zeaxanthin and visual function in patients with atrophic age-related macular degeneration: the Zeaxanthin and Visual Function Study (ZVF) FDA IND #78,973. Optometry. 2011;82(11):667-680.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.optm.2011.08.008.PubMedUsed to support: ZVF randomized trial in 60 people with mild to moderate AMD (57 men, only 3 women, average age 74.9): zeaxanthin 8 mg/day raised macular pigment and improved high-contrast visual acuity by about 1.5 lines plus shape discrimination. In the same trial lutein was better than zeaxanthin for low-contrast acuity and glare recovery. Not conducted with the ZeaONE brand, small sample, almost entirely elderly men, and the 8 mg dose is four times the 2 mg used in AREDS2.
  3. Ma L, Liu R, Du JH, Liu T, Wu SS, Liu XH. Lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin supplementation associated with macular pigment optical density. Nutrients. 2016;8(7):426. doi: 10.3390/nu8070426.PubMedUsed to support: Meta-analysis of 20 randomized trials (938 people with AMD and 826 healthy people) showing that lutein and zeaxanthin supplements raise macular pigment optical density. Macular pigment density is a pigment measurement, not a measure of sight, and this analysis did not show that anyone's vision improved. No ZeaONE data is included.
  4. Ma L, Dou HL, Wu YQ, Huang YM, Huang YB, Xu XR, Zou ZY, Lin XM. Lutein and zeaxanthin intake and the risk of age-related macular degeneration: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Nutr. 2012;107(3):350-359. doi: 10.1017/S0007114511004260.PubMedUsed to support: Pooled 6 long-term observational studies of lutein/zeaxanthin from food, not from supplements: higher dietary intake was linked to less late AMD (RR 0.74) and less neovascular AMD (RR 0.68), with no significant association for early AMD (RR 0.96). An association seen in diet surveys is not proof that taking a supplement does the same thing. Honest parent-literature framing for ZeaONE: epidemiologic protection is limited to advanced disease, and no brand-specific trials exist.