Associations Between Carotenoid Status, Visual Outcomes and Cognitive Metrics in Children: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Science
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Ophthalmology

Background:

• Carotenoids play a vital role in the development and function of children's eyes and brains.
• Understanding carotenoid's impact is crucial for pediatric health and neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of current knowledge on carotenoid benefits for visual and cognitive function in children.
• To identify research gaps in carotenoid's role in early childhood neurodevelopment and visual milestones.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature search of observational and interventional studies up to January 2026.
• Databases searched include PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Mendeley, and Google Scholar.
• Carotenoid status was assessed in diet, serum, skin, and human milk relative to child development.

Main Results:

• Key carotenoids like lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene are found in significant amounts in the brain and eyes.
• These carotenoids are linked to visual function, visual neurocognitive skills, and cognitive tasks in children.
• Emerging evidence from observational studies supports carotenoid benefits for neurocognitive and visual development.

Conclusions:

• Current evidence suggests carotenoid benefits for children's visual and cognitive development, primarily from observational studies.
• There is a lack of controlled intervention trials examining direct carotenoid exposure effects on neurocognitive and visual development.
• Further long-term studies are necessary to confirm early-life carotenoid exposure benefits for later-life eye health and cognitive outcomes.