ZEAXANTHIN (zee-uh-zan'-thin) a yellow pigment in the chemical family of carotenoids which is almost identicle to LUTEIN. The only difference chemically is the position of a double bond at one end of the molocule which makes its chemical properties slightly different from lutein.

Alpha C40H52O2..Zeaxanthin

Generally it is present in the same plants as lutein except in significantly smaller quantities.
As an example, kale which contains the highest amount of lutein in any dietary vegatable with 21.9 mg/100gms contains 0.173 mg/100gms of zeaxanthin. Corn at .78 mg/100gms of lutein has the highest amount of zeaxanthin in any dietary vegatable at 0.528 mg/100gms. (Zeaxanthin amounts as reported by the American Macular Degeneration Foundations web site.)
Whether there is a meaningfull biological difference between lutein and zeaxanthin poses some interesting questions in light of the generally accepted role of lutein as a biological anti-oxidant and further as a probable player in effecting eye health.
Studies have found significant amounts of zeaxanthin concentrated in the mid portion of the maclua of the eye with lutein in its outer area, which suggest a possible differential role for the two. Since lutein supplements have become common as an aid in the approach to dealing with eye health, and it has recently been possible to obtain supplements of zeaxanthin, the presence of zeaxanthin in the maclua may also merit consideration for the same reason.

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