What Happens if You Have Too Much Lutein in Your Body?

October 9, 2025 •

3 min read

While lutein is widely regarded as a safe and beneficial antioxidant, studies have shown that excessive intake, particularly from supplements, can lead to a harmless yellowing of the skin known as carotenodermia. This benign condition is the most prominent sign that you have consumed more lutein than your body needs and can readily process.

Quick Summary

Excess lutein most commonly causes carotenodermia, a temporary skin yellowing, especially with high supplemental intake. It can also lead to minor digestive upset and interfere with absorbing other carotenoids.

Key Points

Harmless Skin Yellowing: Excessive lutein, particularly from supplements, can cause carotenodermia, a harmless yellow discoloration of the skin that fades when intake is reduced.
Digestive Upset is Possible: High doses of lutein supplements can sometimes lead to side effects like diarrhea, nausea, or stomach cramps.
May Interfere with Nutrient Absorption: Excess lutein can compete with and interfere with the absorption of other important carotenoids, like beta-carotene, in the body.
Generally Considered Safe at Appropriate Levels: Lutein is typically safe for consumption within recommended guidelines, though excessive amounts should be avoided.
Food Intake is Generally Safe: Overconsuming lutein through dietary sources alone is very difficult and highly unlikely to cause adverse effects beyond temporary skin discoloration.
Consult a Doctor for Supplement Use: If you take medication or have underlying health conditions, consult a healthcare provider before beginning lutein supplementation to avoid potential interactions.

Understanding Lutein: The Eye-Health Antioxidant

Lutein is a type of carotenoid, an organic pigment found in plants that gives fruits and vegetables their yellow, orange, and red colors. Known widely as an "eye vitamin," it is concentrated in the macula and retina, where it acts as a filter for high-energy blue light, protecting delicate eye tissues from potential sun damage. A diet rich in lutein is associated with a lower risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts. However, the human body cannot produce lutein, making dietary or supplemental intake essential.

The Most Common Side Effect: Carotenodermia

The most common and well-documented side effect of having too much lutein in your body is carotenodermia, a harmless yellowish or orange tint to the skin. This occurs when excess lutein, a fat-soluble compound, accumulates in the outer layer of the skin, particularly on the palms, soles, and nasolabial folds. The discoloration is generally benign and will fade on its own once intake is reduced. A key differentiator from more serious conditions like jaundice is that carotenodermia does not cause the whites of the eyes (sclera) to turn yellow.

Potential Complications of Excessive Supplemental Lutein

While overconsumption through food is very difficult due to the large quantities required, excessive intake from high-dose supplements can increase the risk of other side effects.

Digestive Discomfort

High dosages of lutein supplements can sometimes lead to minor gastrointestinal issues. These may include:

Nausea
Diarrhea
Abdominal cramping These symptoms are more likely to occur when suddenly introducing a high dose of the supplement.

Interference with Other Nutrients

Lutein competes with other carotenoids, such as beta-carotene, for absorption in the intestines. If one consumes an overwhelming amount of lutein from supplements, it could potentially hinder the body's ability to absorb sufficient amounts of these other important carotenoids, possibly leading to a deficiency in those nutrients over time.

Rare Visual Disturbances

Although lutein is celebrated for its positive effects on vision, extremely high supplemental doses might cause disturbances. This is a rare occurrence but has been linked to issues like blurred vision or difficulty seeing in low light conditions, possibly due to excessive accumulation of the pigment in the retina.

Allergic Reactions

Allergic reactions to lutein supplements are rare but possible. Symptoms may include itching, rash, swelling, or difficulty breathing and should prompt a cessation of the supplement and a medical consultation.

Potential Drug Interactions

High doses of lutein supplements can interact with certain medications. For instance, lutein may compete with cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins) for absorption, potentially reducing their effectiveness. It could also have an additive effect when combined with blood pressure-lowering medications. Always consult a healthcare provider before starting a new supplement, especially if you take other medications.

Food vs. Supplement Lutein Overconsumption

Consuming too much lutein is far more likely to occur with supplements than with a typical diet, as achieving excessive levels through food alone would require an extremely high intake of certain vegetables.


Feature	Lutein Overconsumption from Food	Lutein Overconsumption from Supplements
Likelihood	Very unlikely for most people	Possible with high dosages
Primary Effect	Benign carotenodermia, fades with reduced intake	Carotenodermia, plus higher risk of other side effects
Other Effects	Minimal risk of other adverse effects	Higher risk of digestive issues, nutrient interference
Symptom Reversal	Simple reduction in food intake	Reducing dosage or discontinuing supplement
Expert Consensus	Safe; focus on consuming lutein-rich foods	Adhere to recommended intake levels

Conclusion: Prioritizing Safety in Your Lutein Intake

For the average person, consuming a diet rich in fruits and vegetables provides sufficient and safe amounts of lutein to support eye and overall health. High-dose supplemental intake carries a greater risk of side effects, with harmless skin yellowing being the most common. When considering supplementation, especially at higher doses or alongside other medications, it is crucial to consult a healthcare provider. For those with underlying health issues like liver or gallbladder disease, supplements may pose additional risks. Ultimately, a balanced, whole-food diet is the safest and most effective way to maintain adequate lutein levels. For more information on the health benefits of lutein, consult a reliable source like the NIH library: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5715043/.

Frequently Asked Questions

While theoretically possible, it is very difficult to consume harmful amounts of lutein from food alone. You would need to eat massive quantities of lutein-rich foods like kale and spinach to experience noticeable effects.

Carotenodermia is a harmless, temporary yellowing or orange discoloration of the skin caused by the deposition of excess carotenoids, including lutein, in the outer skin layers. It is often most noticeable on the palms and soles.

The main difference is that carotenodermia, or skin yellowing from excess carotenoids, does not cause the whites of the eyes (sclera) to turn yellow. Jaundice, a sign of liver problems, affects the sclera.

While generally safe, it's wise to adhere to recommended intake levels for lutein supplements. Always follow manufacturer instructions and consult your doctor before beginning a new supplement regime.

Excessive intake of lutein, especially from high-dose supplements, may cause minor digestive discomfort such as nausea, diarrhea, or stomach cramps.

Yes, excessive lutein intake can potentially interfere with the absorption of other carotenoids, like beta-carotene, by competing for the same absorption pathways in the intestines.

To reduce high lutein levels, simply decrease your intake of high-dose supplements or extremely carotenoid-rich foods. The skin discoloration and other minor side effects will typically fade as your body processes the excess lutein.