Could a daily dose of lutein boost kids' brainpower?
NCT ID NCT05177679
First seen Jul 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 28, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial tests whether giving children aged 8–10 a daily supplement of lutein and zeaxanthin — nutrients found in leafy greens and eggs — can improve their attention, memory, and academic achievement over a school year. Half the children receive the supplement, while the other half receive a placebo. Researchers will measure changes in cognitive tasks, school test scores, and a marker of eye health called macular pigment optical density.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- a daily supplement containing 10 mg lutein and 2 mg zeaxanthin
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a simple dietary supplement to help sharpen attention, memory, and academic performance in school-age children.
- What could go wrong
- This is a relatively small, early-stage trial in healthy children, so results may not apply broadly. The supplement is generally safe, but any cognitive benefits may be modest or absent.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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113 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jun 2022
- Finished
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Jul 2026
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
8 to 10 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Child assent and parent/guardian consent * 8-10 years of age * No lutein supplementation within 6-months prior to enrollment (exception of multivitamins containing less than 1 mg lutein/day) * Absence of learning disability (parent-reported) * Tanner scale score ≤ 2 * 20/20 or corrected vision Exclusion Criteria: * Non-assent of child or non-consent of guardian * Above/below 8-10 years of age * Lutein supplementation within 6-months prior to enrollment (including multivitamins containing more than 1 mg lutein/day) * Identified learning disability (parent-reported) * Tanner scale score \> 2 * Not 20/20 or uncorrected vision
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Urbana, Illinois, 61801, United States
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